Sorry is a word which English people use all the time, and in a variety of different ways meaning a variety of different things, and not just ‘I apologise’. I was first struck by this when I was teaching a Polish lady in my English conversation class and she told me she was amazed at how polite English people were and she was surprised at how often we said the word ‘sorry’. I don’t think she was meaning that Polish people aren’t polite, most of the Polish people I’ve met are lovely, and really polite… I think she maybe meant that the word isn’t used so often in Polish, because it has just that one meaning – as an apology. No doubt there are lots of other Polish expressions to reflect all the ways the English use ‘sorry’!
One of my favourite columnists, Michael Deacon, mentioned this very thing in the newspaper today and he actually gives a list:
- I apologise.
- I do not apologise. (As in, “Sorry, but that’s the way I feel and you’ll just have to put up with it.”)
- You should apologise to me. (As in, “Sorry, but I find that word quite offensive, actually.”)
- I’m afraid I didn’t hear what you just said – could you repeat it, please? (As in, “Sorry?”)
- I most certainly did hear what you just said, but it was so droolingly cretinous that I’m challenging you to embarrass yourself by saying it again. Go on, say it again. Dare you. (As in, “Sorry, what?”)
- Forgive me – in my unseemly haste to overtake you on the pavement I fear that I accidentally brushed your arm.
- Get out of my way, you dithering imbecile, can’t you see I’m in a hurry here?
- I’m not sorry but protocol dictates that I tell you I am. (As in, “Sorry to keep you waiting, sir, how can I help you today?”)
- Hello, shop assistant. (As in, “Sorry, do you have these shoes in a nine?”)
- If I quickly say this special word you’ve endlessly drummed into me, you won’t shout at me for hitting my little brother with the big plastic He-Man sword, will you, Mummy, although just to be clear about this, I should point out that a) he blatantly deserved it and b) I’ll do it again.
Michael actually writes a lot more about ‘sorry’, imagining at s an app…. if you want to read all of what he writes, here is a link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/10914846/Sorry-but-this-app-will-change-your-life.html
Lois Elsden 