Apologies In Internet English Chat:A Descriptive Study Of Chinese Second Language Learner's Communicative Competence

Based on the fact that speech act has been long regarded as one of the basic tools in the study of communicative competence, this very thesis has analyzed those naturally occurring apologetic data collected in Internet English chatroom, it has therefore provided a descriptive study of CL2LE抯 communicative competence from a pragmatic and sociolinguistic perspective. The thesis consists of 5 parts. Part One introduces the definition of an apology, reasons for apologizing, the relationship between the speech act of apology and online communication as well as the focus and significance of the present study. Part Two outlines the theoretical framework from a (socio)linguistic, pragmatic, and communicative-competence-centered perspective. Part Three elaborates the methodology, instrument, and procedure in the collection of naturally occurring apologetic data on line as well as the definition and characteristics of cyber speech community shared by all CL2LE. Based on Holmes抯 (1990) model for analyzing interaction and within Canale & Swain抯 (1980. 1983) theoretical framework to describe communicative competence, Part Four analyzes all those apologetic data collected, focusing on the functions, linguistic forms, strategies, and contexts of apology, which aim to solve the following problems: (1) how is the interpersonal function of an apology expressed, in what linguistic forms and strategies? (2) how is such a function of apology related to contexts? Part Five draws a conclusion. Our analysis and conclusion show that: 1. Though an apology can simultaneously function as a refusal, admission, or request, its principal function is to provide a remedy for an offence and restore social harmony. 2. As regards linguistic forms to express online apologies, marks, symbols, ii or emotes can be used either to intensify or minimize the function of apology, and the predominant apology IFID type is 搒orry?to express an explicit apology. 3. The most common explicit apology strategy is employed to express a sense of regret, while the most common implicit apology strategy is used to make an explanation or account. A great majority of combined strategies are not a single or combined expression of an explicit apology, but accompanied by an explanation or acknowledgement of responsibility. 4. So far as the position of the strategies is concerned, our discussion shows that an explicit apology as well as an explanation (which serves as an indirect apology) can occur in any position in those combined strategies, however, the strategy of a promise of forbearance is less likely to occur in the last position. 5. As for the type of offence which is an important element in the context of situation, we抳e found that more than a half of offences are caused by inconvenience, and the most common pattern of 搃nconvenience?apology is expressed by an explicit apology together with an acknowledgement of responsibility or a promise of forbearance either alone or together. The second largest in number is the offence pattern because of 搕ime? usually they are expressed in form of 搒orry?or ~~excuse me~s with an explanation or account. 6. As to the seriousness of offence, we抳e found that more than half of offences for which apologies occur ar...