Recently, the Conversation Analysis Research Team from OUC has made a significant breakthrough in the study of apology behaviors in Mandarin Chinese. Their findings, titled “Apologies in Mandarin Chinese conversation: Lexical format and the reflexive construction of ‘apologizeables’”, have been published in the Journal of Pragmatics, a top-tier international journal in pragmatics. The first and corresponding author of the paper is Professor Yu Guodong, head of the research team. Co-authors include Professor Chase Raymond and Professor Wu Yaxin.

Adopting the methodology of conversation analysis, the study investigated apology behaviors in natural Mandarin conversations. With a focus on three commonly used expressions of apology—bùhǎoyìsī (不好意思), duìbùqǐ (对不起), and bàoqiàn/dàoqiàn (抱歉/道歉), the study offered an in-depth analysis of the characteristics and patterns these forms exhibit when addressing various types of “apologizeables” across different interactional contexts.

The findings reveal that these expressions are not interchangeable. Rather, each is typically used to address offenses of varying seriousness: bùhǎoyìsī is typically used for minor social infractions or small inconveniences, duìbùqǐ is reserved for more serious transgressions where the speaker acknowledges fault, and bàoqiàn/dàoqiàn reflects not only personal responsibility but also a breach of moral obligation. Based on these insights, the authors introduce the novel concept of an apology gradient, a continuum that significantly contributes to the pragmatics of apology in Mandarin.

Compared with previous research on apologies in Chinese, this study demonstrates notable originality and pioneering significance. First, it draws on naturally occurring conversational data, moving beyond the traditional reliance on imagined scenarios from literature or media. This shift allows for more precise analysis of the sequential organization and interactional functions of apologies, enhancing the empirical reliability and validity of the findings.

Second, the study extends the scope of apology research beyond the English-language context, which has largely been shaped by scholars like Heritage, Drew, and Robinson. It successfully adapts the conversation analytic perspective to the Chinese language, offering a clearer understanding of apology as a social action. The study highlights the normative distribution of the three expressions in conversation and the communicative implications of speakers’ sensitivity to their distinctions. The study shows that in real-life interactions, simply picking an apology term is not sufficient for communication. Rather, speakers’ precise selection among different apology expressions reflects a high degree of pragmatic sensitivity. Third, the authors examine how syntactic features such as subject selection, modal adverbs, discourse particles, and repetition patterns influence the strength of the apology and the organization of the interaction.

This research not only provides a valuable case study for the emerging use of conversation analysis in Chinese linguistics but also sets a paradigm for future studies on apologies and other social actions. It holds significant implications for advancing research in Mandarin conversation analysis, interactional linguistics, and related disciplines. This achievement is a strong testament to the development of OUC’s Conversation Analysis Research Team in recent years.