Apology and Linguistic Politeness Strategies in English among Igbo Native Speakers in Nigeria - an Inter-language Study - Study on Apology Politeness Strategies

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Cart

The study explores conversational English politeness strategies used by Igbo learners of English in Nigeria. Using purposive sampling, 3000 Discourse Completion Task questionnaires covering 10 apology situations were distributed to Igbo undergraduates in seven South-East and South-South universities; 2748 were completed and analyzed with quantitative methods. Results show strong use of politeness strategies in apology discourse and clear transfer of nuances from the first language into target language production, challenging the universality of politeness and supporting its culture-specific nature.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Conversation as a social necessity

Politeness as discourse strategy

Politeness and cultural expectations

Advances in Language and Literary Studies ISSN: 2203-4714 [www.alls.aiac.org.au](www.alls.aiac.org.au) | Apology and Linguistic Politeness Strategies in English among Igbo Native Speakers in Nigeria: an Inter-language Study
Chinomso P. Dozie1, Emeka J. Otagburuagu2
1 Use of English Language and Communication Unit, Directorate of General Studies, Federal University of Technology P.M.B. 1526 Owerri, Nigeria
2Department of English and Communication Skills, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsukka Campus, Nigeria Corresponding Author: Chinomso Patricia Dozie, E-mail: [chinomso.dozie@futo.edu.ng](chinomso.dozie@futo.edu.ng) | | | --- | --- | | ARTICLE INFO | ABSTRACT
The study sought to explore the conversational English politeness strategies used by Igbo learners of English in Nigeria. Through a purposive sampling process, a total of 3000 copies of questionnaire in the form of Discourse Completion Task (DCT) consisting of 10 different apology discourse situations positing extent of familiarity, hierarchy and degree of infraction were distributed to undergraduates of Igbo extraction at seven universities systematically selected from the South-East and South-South zones in Nigeria. In all, 2748 copies of questionnaire representing 92 percent were duly completed, returned, coded and analysed using the quantitative tool for analysis of production data. Findings demonstrated that the samples used politeness strategies very significantly in apology discourse. Also, the study revealed that apologies are conversational habits of Igbo bilinguals as the offenders willingly made an apology regardless of social differences and context which were also reflected in their choice of strategies as there was obvious transfer of the nuances of the first/native language/mother tongue to their target language production. The study established that apology realisation in an interlanguage context i.e. Igbo speaking learners of English necessarily bears the burden of native language transfer into target language. In conclusion, this study showed that because of the Igbo understanding that in human interactions, there are possibilities of instances of affront or outrage Igbo bilinguals adopted mainly the positive and negative forms of politeness strategies in apology discourse asthe case may be to accomplish a conversational demand. The study found evidence to further dispute the universality of politeness and argued that politeness is culture-specific. | | Article history
Received: July 02, 2019
Accepted: September 12, 2019
Published: October 31, 2019
Volume: 10 Issue: 5
Advance access: October 2019 | | | Conflicts of interest: None
Funding: None | | | Key words:
Apology Speech Act, Linguistic Politeness Strategies, Igbo Native Speakers, Conversational English,
Inter-language,
Nigeria | | INTRODUCTION Conversation is a basic feature of face to face interaction in all human societies. As a way of life, conversation is man’s second nature. In all works of life and all spheres of human existence, there is need for effective conversation. Problems arise in human interaction partly because of conversation failure. Leadership problems, family misalignments may equally emanate from conversation breakdown. The need to maintain peace and order and the need to let the society and organisations run effectively have led to the search for effective conversation and appropriate strategies. Scholars have investigated conversation strategies. The field of conversation analysis was started in the United States by Harvey Sacks, an American sociologist, in the 1960’s and since then it has grown into a sophisticated field of discourse in language studies and different scholars have postulated different hypotheses and theories about conversation analysis. They have also tried to highlight the discourse features of conversation to include turn-taking, politeness, hedging, adjacency principle, code swit

FAQs

What does the study investigate about Igbo learners of English?

It examines conversational English politeness strategies employed by Igbo learners when producing apologies in inter-language contexts.

How was the data collected and analyzed?

Questionnaires in the form of Discourse Completion Tasks were distributed across seven universities, and 2748 completed copies were coded and analyzed using quantitative methods.

What key findings were reported regarding apology and politeness?

The study found that politeness strategies are used very significantly in apology discourse and that apology production reflects transfer of first-language nuances into English.

What conclusion does the study draw about the nature of politeness?

It argues against the universality of politeness and claims politeness is culture-specific, shaped by social and cultural habits and expectations.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Cart