LITERATURE REVIEW:

In recent times, there have been a number of research studies undertaken on the apologetic
response speech act. Earlier, only a few research about ARs existed which had largely been
accomplished owing to the analysis relevant to the usage of apologies and not because of the main
focus on research.

They claim that Ars can serve a key function in repairing and maintaining societal harmony that is
achieved through the act of apology. In other terms, the achievement of such a purpose will be
primarily influenced by the types of replies from the addressee or the injured person . In the subject
of applied linguistics, pragmatic competence has been defined and explored by various scientists.
However, most of these attempts to describe pragmatic competence reflect more or less the same
notions.

Pragmatics is the study of how people perceive and generate a communication act or speech act in a
concrete discussion context, which is usually a conversation. It identifies two intents or meanings in
each statement or communicative act of verbal communication. One is the intention to inform or
the meaning of the statement, and the other is the intention to communicate or the meaning of the
speaker.

Research on ARs has frequently been incorporated into studies taking into account various
viewpoints, such as that of psychology and religious belief, in addition to linguistic, sociolinguistic,
and pragmatic components.

The ability to recognize and produce a communication act is known as pragmatic competence, which
frequently incorporates one's awareness of the social distance and status between the speakers
involved, as well as explicit and implicit linguistic knowledge and cultural information such as
courtesy.

It has usually been recognized that two key ideas, speaker identification, and circumstance
sensitivity, are the origins of linguistic variation. The way we behave politely is also determined by
our identity, which is formulated by who we are and how we define the concept of identity. The
second kind of variation is one that is based on the circumstance in which we found ourselves.
Through the concept of register or stylistic variation, which is also the subject of the current study,
the study of politeness variation is approached.

Discourse differences that are influenced by cultural differences can result in misunderstandings and
communication breakdowns. In these circumstances, inadequate pragmatics competency
(insufficient knowledge of ARs) when studying abroad can be a cause of confusion and
misunderstanding among speakers if they do not comprehend one other's illocutionary purpose,
particularly when a huge number of Pakistanis take the IELTS and TOEFL examinations every year in
order to acquire admission in overseas English-speaking and non-English-speaking colleges.
Additionally, English-speaking Pakistanis must exhibit sufficient pragmatic competence while
communicating with multinational organizations online, particularly on social media platforms like
Twitter, Facebook, WeChat, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Apology Responses, or ARs, must therefore
rank among the investigations' top priorities.

In other sense, linguistic competence includes the ability to understand and create socially
acceptable language functions in dialogue in addition to linguistic or grammatical understanding.
Studies have shown that in order to gain functional competency and be able to communicate
effectively and use the target language appropriately in a variety of circumstances, L2 learners must
be properly cultivated with the pragmatic rules of the target language. Researchers in the field have
recently given the development and accuracy of pragmatic competence of EFL/ESL learners major
consideration. Interlanguage pragmatics (ILP) and pragmatic transfer studies have demonstrated
how non-native speakers' interpretation of a given speech act differs from native speakers due to
the influence of their native language, leading to misunderstandings and communication
breakdowns. This study examines how Pakistani EFL university students employ English apologetic
tactics.

RESEARCH QUESTION:

How do Pakistan and British English speakers apologize?

A large portion of British English speakers frequently employs ARs with rather powerful hearer-
oriented methods (Acceptance). On the other hand, it appears that speaker-oriented tactics and the
frequent use of acknowledgment are dominant in Pakistani English ARs. Similarly, to this, British
English speakers utilize more indirect (Evasion) tactics than English speakers from Pakistan. These
findings demonstrate that Pakistanis who speak English are remarkably more forthright and honest
in their expressions of regret than British English speakers.

Pakistani English speakers are more polite when it comes to apologizing however British English
speakers do not bother with anything. The heavy use of politeness techniques, shortness (brevity of
expression), and attention are all traits of Pakistani English language speakers. However, the speech
of British English speakers is more formal and socially dominant.

Speech acts of apologies are crucial for learning the English language, and they ought to be covered
in English language instruction materials to support students' development of pragmatic
competence. Pakistani English language students are not familiar with the sociolinguistic
conventions of English. When English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners have pragmatic
competence, which shows the ability to use language forms suitable to the socio-cultural context,
communication can be successful.

CONCLUSION:

This study looked at the ways that English speakers from Pakistan and the United Kingdom used
apologies and how those uses varied across the respondents. The respondents' cultural and linguistic
homogeneity may be one of the primary causes. English-speaking Pakistanis and British English
speakers who have achieved Acceptance ARs in identical ways have a clear preference for the
employment of standard apologetic response terms (Absolution). Both Pakistani and British cultures
use verbalized remedies and acceptance of promises to restore harmony. In the case of Pakistan, it is
demonstrated that accepting remedies and promises is religiously required rather than rejecting
them and harboring ill will. Accepting cures also revealed a less self-private side of Pakistani society,
which was reflected in the genuine acceptance of medicine and promise. Apology responses help the
addressee regain social stability, and save the interlocutor's face. Responses to an apology that aim
to mend a relationship can include a combination of absolution, rejection, gratitude,
advice/suggesting acceptable cures, and so on. The overuse of apology response techniques and the
subsequent rise in satisfaction are options in a speaker's arsenal for delegitimizing the perpetrator.