“I am sorry, professor”: a pragmatic analysis of the apology speech act realization by Egyptian HSL learners

Abstract

This study examines how Egyptian learners of Hebrew as a second language realize the speech act of apology compared to native Israeli Hebrew speakers. While apologies have been extensively studied in English and Arabic, Hebrew remains underexplored in interlanguage pragmatics, particularly in Arabic–Hebrew pragmatic transfer. Data were collected from 30 Egyptian learners at the Hebrew Language Department at Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, and 30 Israeli native speakers using a Discourse Completion Test comprising five social situations. The results reveal significant similarities between the two groups, with both preferring Illocutionary Force Indicating Devices and taking responsibility, while rarely employing concern for the hearer or promises of forbearance, demonstrating the learners’ awareness of Hebrew pragmatic norms. However, notable differences have emerged: Egyptians relied more heavily on detailed explanations and supportive moves—such as honorific address terms and religious expressions—than Israelis, reflecting a negative pragmatic transfer from Arabic norms. This study highlights the importance of addressing cross-linguistic differences in Hebrew instruction to enhance learners’ pragmatic competence and alignment with native speaker conventions.