A Study on Japanese Apology Expressions Used at the Beginning of Request Actions: Focusing on Prior Activity and the Recipient’s Orientation

Abstract

This study focuses on Japanese expressions of apology used at the beginning of request actions and examines their interactional functions using the method of conversation analysis. While previous research on apology expressions has primarily focused on the relationship between the speaker and recipient or the seriousness of the offense, this study analyzes how apology expressions are positioned and constructed within conversational sequences, based on naturally occurring data. Apology expressions in utterance-initial position were frequently observed in requests where the speaker demanded immediate action from the recipient. The beginning of an utterance plays a crucial role in organizing the relationship between the prior turn and the upcoming one. The use of an apology expression in this position indicates that the following utterance involves an action that may impose a burden or inconvenience on the recipient. When combined with a shift in gaze and body movement, these expressions enable the recipient to anticipate the beginning of a request. In addition, apology expressions interrupt the recipient’s ongoing activity and signal the initiation of a new course of action—namely, the request. This study suggests that a detailed analysis of sequential positioning and utterance structure is crucial for understanding the dual function of apology expressions in the initial position of request actions.