Politeness as a participants’ matter: the interactive construction of apologies in Mandarin Chinese conversation

Key Points

• Apologies play a critical role in maintaining politeness during Mandarin Chinese conversations, influencing social interactions.
• The study highlights how participants collaboratively construct apologies, reflecting cultural norms and expectations.
• By examining conversational exchanges, fundamental aspects of politeness strategies emerge in language use and interaction.
• These findings underscore the importance of understanding social dynamics in conversation, particularly in Mandarin Chinese contexts.