A comparative analysis on apology speech acts in American English and Macedonian

This paper examines the speech act of apology through a comparative analysis of its forms and the strategies used to express it. Data were collected using an online discourse completion task administered to university students from two different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The task presented participants with several situations that varied in social distance, social status, and the severity of the offense. The study aims to outline the pragmatic structure of apologies and to identify potential similarities and differences across the two groups. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of how communicative norms and cultural factors shape apologetic behaviour, helping speakers navigate cross-cultural interactions more effectively.