INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION ON PAKISTANI ENGLISH SPEAKERS APOLOGY RESPONSES: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL APPROACH

Abstract

This paper follows a phenomenology approach to investigate the influence of social stratification on Pakistani English speakers’ apology responses. Some researchers have played quite a significant role in advancing the field, but their data collection methods (discourse completion tests and role plays) have received much criticism. In order to address this issue, the current study followed the phenomenology approach and based its data collection procedure on focus group discussion. The data of the current study were collected through a focus group discussion questionnaire. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was carried out by following Braun and Clarke’s (2013) six steps. Major themes were coded, identified, and classified through Atlas.ti software. Findings indicate that participants stressed the significance of accepting others to keep healthy relations. Accepting apology was perceived not only as moral but also as aesthetic behavior that can beautify the moments of social interaction. Further, social position and power performed an important role to determine the techniques and function of responding to the apology in Pakistani English speakers’ responses. Interlocutors who were in a lower public position and power were found responding to apologies more pleasantly and politely than those who had a higher public position. In comparison, those who were in a high position responded to apologies in a different way to the addressees with a lower status. Thus, the contextual aspects such as social status, and the degree of imposition had a great part in producing apology responses as well as perceiving apology responses as conversation act behavior. The impact of social status on the Pakistanis English speakers’ efficiency was subject to a cultural filter that reveals various orders of values.