@article{ART003343718},
author={Lee So Hyun},
title={A Cross-Cultural Study of Apology Speech Act Strategies in Public Service Contexts - The Influence of Listener Age among Korean, Russian, and Kazakh Speakers -},
journal={Journal of Humanities},
issn={1598-8457},
year={2026},
number={101},
pages={077-122}
TY - JOUR
AU - Lee So Hyun
TI - A Cross-Cultural Study of Apology Speech Act Strategies in Public Service Contexts - The Influence of Listener Age among Korean, Russian, and Kazakh Speakers -
JO - Journal of Humanities
PY - 2026
VL - null
IS - 101
PB - Institute for Humanities
SP - 077
EP - 122
SN - 1598-8457
AB - This study conducts a cross-cultural analysis of apology speech act strategies among Russian and Kazakh speakers in Kazakhstan, alongside Korean speakers. It specifically focuses on how the listener’s age variable influences strategy selection and pragmatic variation within public service contexts. Using Discourse Completion Test (DCT) data from the Almaty region, the study adopts the CCSA framework and Brown & Levinson’s (1987) politeness theory.
The findings reveal that while all groups increase apology intensity according to situational severity, they exhibit distinct cultural identities.
First, Korean speakers displayed ‘hierarchy-dependent variability’ and ‘normative politeness.’ Their strategies shifted dynamically based on the listener’s status; notably, they preferred direct, explicit apologies to younger listeners, emphasizing moral accountability over defensive posturing.
Second, Russian speakers demonstrated a tendency toward ‘emotion-oriented consistency.’ Regardless of hierarchy, they prioritized interpersonal empathy and emotional repair, consistently utilizing regret strategies to reduce psychological distance.
Third, Kazakh speakers exhibited ‘pragmatic responsibility’ and ‘paternalistic authority.’ Apologies were viewed as functional tools for material compensation and future repair. Uniquely, they combined apologies with admonishment when addressing younger listeners, reflecting their perceived social role as elders or experts.
In conclusion, this study empirically demonstrates that apology strategies reflect underlying differences in orientations toward social hierarchy and solidarity even within the same national community. These findings provide a practical foundation for intercultural communication research and sociolinguistic understanding in multi-cultural settings.
KW - Apology Speech Act;CCSA;Politeness Strategy;Age Variable;Contrastive Linguistics;Kazakhstan Sociolinguistics
DO -
UR -
ER -
Lee So Hyun. (2026). A Cross-Cultural Study of Apology Speech Act Strategies in Public Service Contexts - The Influence of Listener Age among Korean, Russian, and Kazakh Speakers -. Journal of Humanities, 101, 077-122.
Lee So Hyun. 2026, "A Cross-Cultural Study of Apology Speech Act Strategies in Public Service Contexts - The Influence of Listener Age among Korean, Russian, and Kazakh Speakers -", Journal of Humanities, no.101, pp.077-122.
Lee So Hyun "A Cross-Cultural Study of Apology Speech Act Strategies in Public Service Contexts - The Influence of Listener Age among Korean, Russian, and Kazakh Speakers -" Journal of Humanities 101 pp.077-122 (2026) : 077.
Lee So Hyun. A Cross-Cultural Study of Apology Speech Act Strategies in Public Service Contexts - The Influence of Listener Age among Korean, Russian, and Kazakh Speakers -. 2026; 101 : 077-122.
Lee So Hyun. "A Cross-Cultural Study of Apology Speech Act Strategies in Public Service Contexts - The Influence of Listener Age among Korean, Russian, and Kazakh Speakers -" Journal of Humanities no.101(2026) : 077-122.
Lee So Hyun. A Cross-Cultural Study of Apology Speech Act Strategies in Public Service Contexts - The Influence of Listener Age among Korean, Russian, and Kazakh Speakers -. Journal of Humanities, 101, 077-122.
Lee So Hyun. A Cross-Cultural Study of Apology Speech Act Strategies in Public Service Contexts - The Influence of Listener Age among Korean, Russian, and Kazakh Speakers -. Journal of Humanities. 2026; 101 077-122.
Lee So Hyun. A Cross-Cultural Study of Apology Speech Act Strategies in Public Service Contexts - The Influence of Listener Age among Korean, Russian, and Kazakh Speakers -. 2026; 101 : 077-122.
Lee So Hyun. "A Cross-Cultural Study of Apology Speech Act Strategies in Public Service Contexts - The Influence of Listener Age among Korean, Russian, and Kazakh Speakers -" Journal of Humanities no.101(2026) : 077-122.
