Awkward situations happen to everyone, so it is important to be able to get out of the situation, saving face. When others begin to get angry and it becomes more and more difficult to control oneself, etiquette comes to the rescue. It describes in detail what actions need to be taken, and the words to be spoken. Among the latter there is a "sorry". This is a universal concept that, thanks to feature films and literature, has long become an international formula for a gallant apology. What does it mean, how did it appear and in what situations is it appropriate?
Ask for mercy
There are two possible uses. As an independent word, "sorry" is an interjection, which should be said immediately after the incident. It stands for two ways:
- sorry;
- sorry.
Be culturally sensitive. So, the word can be painted in interrogative intonations or even sound threatening. Or it can serve as an original sign to attract attention instead of an apology. Often used in conjunction with any verb. You can “ask for a pardon”, which literally reads as “I apologize!”. And this is logical: after all, adopting the meaning of a noun, the concept under studybecomes a synonym for the words:
- forgiveness;
- apology;
- mercy.
But if the classic "Sorry, madam!" sounds elegant, appropriate in high society, then the interpretation with “mercy” is considered colloquial in Russian. You can say this in the middle of a fight or before a duel, but in other cases, such behavior will become a demonstration of bad manners.
Paris trail
It's borrowed from the time of fashion for everything French. Pardon sounded very elegant, and in itself went back to medieval Latin per- paired with donare:
- forgive;
- sorry.
Due to the long history of the term, it is not surprising that there are interpretations little known in Russia. In French Brittany, Pardon is a religious ceremony within the Catholic Church. And for the English, the word is closely connected with both secular and spiritual power. Its exact translation is:
- pardon;
- indulgence.
An iconic concept that has changed the lives of prisoners and sinners for centuries.
Modern use
Is it correct to apologize like that in Russian? There is a serious connection to a specific situation: consider the upbringing and education of the interlocutor. Although the traditional “sorry” is a request for forgiveness, the concept is often painted with an ironic, playful intonation. There is nothing in playful communication with the person you likebad, but in the course of the conflict, the opposite side may perceive this as a mockery. Watch your words so you don't apologize!
