WesternUniversity

CanadianCultureandtheExaggerateUseof
ApologeticLanguage
FinalPaper

VittorioMauro
Anthropology2245:Language&Culture
ProfessorRegnaDarnell
MondayApril4th,2016

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1.0.0Introduction
Thecultureofasocietyinfluencesthelanguageusewithinthatsocietywhilethe
samethingappliestheotherwayaround.Languageprofoundlyinfluencesthewaypeople
seetheworldandIhavenoticedthisspecificallyinCanadianculturebecauseofthefact
itisthecountryinwhichIwasbornandraised.IhavelivedinCanadamywholelifeand
withinthosetwentyoneyearsIhavebeenimmersedinCanadianculture,orrather,in
Canadasmulticulturalsocietyandhavedevelopedmyownworldview,mostofthetime
influencedbythewayusCanadiansuseourlanguageineverydaycontexts.MyCanadian
experienceshelpedmebetterunderstandthestereotypessurroundingCanadianpoliteness
andthatforthemostpartthesestereotypesareprettyaccurate.LivinginCanadayouhere
allthetimehowniceandpoliteweare.Althoughthesetermsallhavepositive
connotations,ourapparentoveruseoffrequentunnecessaryapologiesandactsof
courtesysometimesgiveusabadnamefromothernationsintheworldandpavesa
smoothpathwayforthemtoteaseusaboutit.
Ithoughtthisjokesumsitupquitenicely:HowdoyougetaCanadianto
apologize?Youstepontheirfoot.Itseemsasthoughourkeennessonpropermannersis
oftenconsideredtobetoomuchandisusedinsituationswhereapologizing,forexample,
isnotreallynecessary.ACanadianwillbumpintoanotherCanadianandtheonewho
wasbumpedintowillapologizewhereas,inmyopinion,thesamesituationwithaverage
Americanswouldendinawatchwhereyouregoingtypeofreaction.Ourexaggerate
apologizing,morecommonlyintheuseofthewordsorry,isreallyinterestingandI
wantedtogetabetterunderstandingofwhyandhowthisexistsinandinfluences

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Canadiancultureandwhereitmighthaveoriginatedfrom.Alongwithmyownpersonal
experiencesandopinionsIhavedecidedtoconductseveralinterviewswithfriendsand
familywhomightbeabletocontributetothetopicandprovidesomeclarityonthe
subject.ThreeoutofthefourpeopleIinterviewedgrewupindifferentareasofOntario
withdifferentculturalbackgroundsandtheyareofdifferentagesandethnicity.The
fourthpersonisanativeItalianrecentlyimmigratedtoCanadatopursueaUniversity
degree.Thisvariationamongsttheintervieweestomewasamustbecauseitcreatesa
relativelyunbiasedplatformofopinionsduetothefactthateveryoneofthemgrewup
withsignificantlydifferentexperiences.Everyparticipanthasgivenmeverbalconsentto
usetheirnamesandpermissiontoquotetheiranswersandcommentsinmypaper.Inthe
followingsectionsIwilltalkalittlebitmoreabouttheintervieweesandhowIconducted
eachoftheinterviews.

2.0.0Interviewees
IntotalIdecidedtointerviewfourpeopletoseewhattheirviewswereonthe
subjectofCanadiancultureandexaggerateuseofapologeticlanguage.ThefirstpersonI
interviewedwasmymotherEster.Shewasbornin1968whichmakesherfortyeight
yearsyoungandisoneofthreesiblings,allchildrenofimmigrantItalianparents.I
decidedtointerviewherbecauseofdifferentreasons:sheispartofanoldergeneration,
shewasraisedinamulticulturalenvironmentathomewithimmigrantparentsandalso
becauseshestudiedlinguisticstheUniversityofTorontoinherlateteensandearly
twenties.SheisbilingualinbothEnglishandItalianandisalsoveryfluentinFrench.I

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thoughtthatherfamiliaritywithlanguagesandherexperienceoflivingatrue
multiculturalCanadianlifewouldsparksomeinterestingopinionsonthesubject.The
secondpersonIdecidedtointerviewwasmyroommateScott.Hewasbornin1993,
whichmakeshimtwentytwoyearsoldandgrewupinLondon,Ontarioasanonlychild
withhisparents.HisfamilyhasbeenlivinginCanadaformanygenerations,which
makeshimrelativelynativetothiscountrywithoutmuchinfluencefromothercultures.
HeisacurrentphilosophyandsociologymajoratWestern,whichisthemainreasonI
chosetointerviewhim.Ihopedthathisknowledgeandeducationonsocialbehaviour
andsocietywouldalsohelpbringupsomemoreinterestingpointsonthesubject.The
thirdpersonIdecidedtointerviewismygirlfriendAndrea.Shewasbornin1994,which
makeshertwentyoneyearsoldandgrewupinBurlington,Ontariowithherolder
brotherandbothparents.SimilarlytoScott,AndreasfamilyhasbeenlivinginCanada
forgenerationssoIwouldconsiderherethnicitytobemoreorlessentirelyCanadian.
AndreaiscurrentlystudyingMediaInformationandTechnoCultureatWesternandI
thoughtthatherknowledgeontheinfluencethatmediahasonsocietycouldbringup
somevalidpointsaboutCanadiancultureandhyperpoliteness.Lastly,Ichoseto
interviewmycousinLino.Hewasbornin1995,whichmakeshimtwentyyearsoldand
grewupinCelano,Italyandrecentlymovedheretogetadegreeinmathematicsatthe
UniversityofToronto.Hehasayoungersisterandbothparentswhoarestillliving
overseas.LinosmothertongueisItalianthoughheisveryfluentinEnglish.Ichoseto
interviewLinosimplybecauseheisarecentlyimmigratedItaloCanadianandIwas
curiousastowhetherornothehasexperiencedthestereotypicalCanadianuseof

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apologeticlanguageineverydayCanadiansituations,andwhathisviewswereonthe
subjectmatter.

2.1.0Interviews
Alloftheinterviewstookplaceininformalsettings.Iinterviewedmymotherand
cousinLinoinMississaugaoverEasterweekendandIinterviewedAndreaandScottin
Londoninthelivingroomofmystudenthouse.Irecordeddownimportantpointsthat
eachofthemsaidwithapencilandnotepad.Eachinterviewlastedforabouttenminutes.
Iaskedthesamequestiontoeachofthem,whichwasrelativelygeneralbecauseIjust
wantedtogetanoverviewoftheiropinions.ThequestionIaskedwas,Doyoubelieve
thatCanadiancultureinfluencesorisinfluencedbythefrequentuseofapologetic
languageineverydaysituations?Ifso,whydoyouthinkthisisthecase?Eachinterview
wasuniqueintheirownwaybecauseeachoftheintervieweeshaddifferentresponses,
whichissomethingIfoundinteresting.Allofthembelievedthattherewassometypeof
connectionbetweenCanadiancultureandtheextensiveuseofapologeticbehaviour.

2.1.1Ester
Mymothersinterviewconsistedofalotofreferencetogrowingupina
multiculturalenvironmentandtryingtobalancethetwoculturesofbeingprimarily
CanadianbutalsohavingItalianparentsandfamilytraditions.Shesaysthatshedoes
recalladifferenceinpolitenessfromoneculturetothenextandstatedthat,Myparents
werealwayspolitepeoplebutIdorememberadistinctcharacteristicofbeingCanadian

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andtheclassicuseofsorry.Inoticeditmostlywithinmyfriendgroupinelementary
andhighschool.SheagreedthattherewassomethingaboutCanadianculturethat
influencedthisapologeticnatureinCanadiansbutwasntsuretherewasonecorrect
reasonforit.Iagreedwiththis.Shehypothesisedthatitismaybebecauseofthefactthat
Canadaissowelcomingtowardsimmigrationanddiversityofethnicitiesthatthereisan
underlyingpoliteandacceptingbehaviourthatblanketstheentirecountry.She
mentioned,IknowthatwhenmyparentscametoCanadatheytoldmethatinitiallythey
werekindofnervousanddidntwanttosteponanytoesbecauseofthefactthatthey
werethenewkidsontheblock.Icantotallyseeimmigrantsbecomingextrapoliteand
apologeticbecauseofthissomaybethatiswherethistendencycamefrom;recent
immigrantswhowanttomakesuretheyarentoffendinganybody.Ihadneverreally
thoughtaboutthissubjectinthatwayandonceIhearditfromsomeoneelseIrealized
thatitisdefinitelyplausible.Imaginehowyouwouldfeelifyouweremigratingto
anothercountrytostartacompletelynewlife.IknowforafactIwouldwanttomakemy
presenceveryunknownatthebeginning,andifIthoughtthatmypresencewasever
steppingoveranyboundariesIwouldntbeabletoapologizeenough.Maybethis
prudenceofnewcomersintothecountrygeneratedthiseffectofextremedefensive
languageandbehaviourresultingintheoverusageofapologeticlanguageinCanadian
society.

2.1.2Scott

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Scottalsoraisedsomevalidpoints.Healsoagreedwiththefactthatthereissome
typeofrelationshipwithCanadiancultureandexcessiveapology;however,thefirstpoint
hebroughtupwassomewhatdifferentyetinacertainwaysimilartowhatmymotherhad
mentioned.Scottfirstmentionedthatinhisopinionthisstereotypicalnicenessand
politenessinCanadianculturewasnotexaggeratedatallwithinthefirstindigenous
peoplethatlivedheremanyyearsago.Hestated,Ihonestlybelievethatallthistalk
aboutCanadiansbeingoverpoliteandwhateverisprobablyconnectedtothefactthatthe
indigenouspeopleofCanadahadbeencolonizedbyEuropeannationsandIthinkthat
thesenationsreallyvaluedbeingperceivedassmart,wellmanneredandlikeable.This
pointsparkedsomeinterestinmebecauseIbegantothinkaboutwhatstereotypes
surroundpeoplefromtheUKandsurelyenoughIthoughtofthemasbeingsuperpolite
andproper.PerhapstheEnglishandtheFrenchEuropeanswhocolonizedthenorthern
halfofNorthAmericabroughtthesepersonalitytraitswiththemandtheyjusthappened
toruboffonus.Scottalsomentioned,andeventhoughwedosaysorryalotIthink
thissamepatterncanmostlikelybefoundinotherwordsandphrasestoo,likemaybe
withnoproblemormybadforexampleandImsurethereareothers.Nonetheless,I
believethatthisphenomenonhappensatasubconsciouslevel;thatis,wedontthink
aboutapologizingtoomuchwejustdoit.

2.1.3Andrea
MyinterviewwithAndreatooktheconversationintoanewandmoremodern
direction.LikeImentionedbefore,AndreastudiesMediaInformationandTechno

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CulturehereatWesternandIwashopingthatherstudiescouldprovidemoreofa
technologicalviewpointonthesubject.Heropiniondeviatedsomewhatfrommymother
andScott;tobehonestIthinkthatthestereotypesaresofargonethatthemainreason
thatCanadiansdoshowthisapologeticbehaviourisbecauseofthefactthesestereotypes
aresoestablishedthatwethinktheyarerealandinturntheyhaveselfcontributedtothe
extentatwhichwehavesuchfrequentapologetictendencies.WehearAmericansjoking
abouthowweapologizesomuchthatwejusttakeittobetrueandmaybeeven
unconsciouslymirrorthesebeliefsinourbehaviourandthereforeinourculture.This
pointwasinterestinginthesensethatshebroughtuptheAmericaninfluenceon
Canadianculture.AnotherstereotypethatisworthmentioningisthatAmericanshavea
verypowerfulvoicewithindiscussionsofmattersofthenationsoftheworld.Manyother
countriesareintimidatedbytheUnitedStatesandtendtobelievemost,ifnoteverything
theysayasaresult.Furthermore,Andreaalsomentionedthatshebelievesthe
sorrowfulCanadianstereotypeissoengrainedintotheimageofbeingCanadianthat
eventhemostpopularCanadianpopstarJustinBieberwroteasongcalledsorry,and
hasreachedoveronebillionviewsonYouTube.Ihadntrealizedhowstereotypically
Canadianthissongwasuntilshementionedthistome.

2.1.4Lino
MyinterviewwithLinowasquiteinterestingbecauseheprovidedanoutsider
opinion,whichwasthemainreasonIdecidedtointerviewhim.WhenLinomovedto
Torontoabouttwoyearsagohewasjustgettingusedtohowthingsworkedherein

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Canada.However,oneoftheaspectsthathepickeduponveryeasilywaslearninghow
tospeakEnglish.IrememberwhenIhadfirstmethiminItalyonafamilyvacationhe
couldnotspeakEnglishfluentlyandonlyknewsomewordshereandthere.Afterthefirst
couplemonthsoflivinginTorontoIrememberbeingextremelyimpressedabouthow
wellandquicklyhehadlearnedtospeakEnglish.OnceIaskedhimaboutthestereotype
ofpolitenessinCanadianculturehisremarkswerethoughtprovoking,Itisfunnythat
youaskedmeaboutthisbecauseIfirstnoticedthisaboutCanadiansonceIreturnedto
ItalyforChristmasbreakinmyfirstyearofUniversity.IrealizedthatIhadbroughtwith
methisCanadianthingbacktoItalyandIwasdoingthesamethingonlyinItalianwith
myfriends.ItwasafunnyrealizationbutalsoverycomfortingbecauseIfeltIwasreally
involvingmyselfintoCanadiancultureandwhenIwentbacktoTorontoIfeltmore
comfortablebecauseofthis.Mycousinhasalwaysbeenveryproudofthefactthathe
hadhisCanadiancitizenshipandalwaysexpressedsomuchinterestintheCanadianway
oflife.ItisassuringthattheredoesinfactexistarelationshipbetweenCanadianismand
beingtoopolite,especiallywhenyouhearexperiencesfrompeoplelikeLinowho
comefromothercountriesintheworldandviewitassomethingsopositive.He
mentions,IamnotreallysurewhythistendencyexistsbutallIdoknowisthatitdoes
andIamveryhappytohaveadopteditintomypersonallifebecausenowIfeelmore
Canadianbecauseofit.ManyplacesintheworldareveryrudesoIthinkthatthispart
aboutbeingCanadianshouldbesomethingtobeproudof.Canadiansareawesome!

3.0.0Summary&Conclusions

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Althoughallfouroftheintervieweeshadrelativelydifferentopinionsaboutthe
relationshipbetweenCanadiancultureandtheexaggerateduseofapologeticlanguagein
everydaycontexts,onethingwasforsure;theyallbelievedthatthisstereotypewasvery
realandthattheyhaveallnoticedthistendencyinCanadiancultureinsomeway.The
underlyingquestionseemedtobethesameforallfourofthemthough,noonereally
knewtheexactreasonfortheexistenceofthisCanadianstereotypeorthetruewayin
whichthelanguageinfluencesthecultureorviceversa.MymotherEstertalkedaboutthe
influenceoftherecentimmigrantbehaviourinCanadabecauseitissomethingthatshe
hadexperiencedfirsthandlivingwithherItalianimmigrantparents.Sheguessedthata
possiblereasonfortheoveruseofapologeticlanguageinCanadianculturecouldbethe
reflectionoftheearlydefensiveandprudentbehaviourofrecentimmigrantsinCanada.
Scotttookonamorehistoricalapproachinthesensethathementionstheprobable
absenceofthisbehaviourinindigenousnativeCanadians,andthatthestereotypemost
likelyoriginatedfromtheinfluenceofEuropeancolonizationonCanadianland.Hetalks
abouthowhebelievesthatEuropeansstereotypicallywanttobeperceivedassmart,well
educatedandlikeableandthesetraitsultimatelyhadbeenbroughttoCanadiansoilby
themandwasslowlyintegratedintothecultureovertheyears.Andreaprovidedamore
modernviewaboutthistopic.Shementionedthatshebelievestheonlyreasonthatthis
stereotypeisstillpresentinCanadiansocietytodaycouldbebecauseofaselfstabilizing
effectofthestereotypewithinitself,mostlikelyfuelledevenmorebyanAmerican
influenceaswellasinfluencefrommassmedia.Finally,Linobroughtanoutsider
experiencetothetableandmentionsthathedoesbelievethisstereotypeexistsand

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moreoverthatitisquitesimpletopickitupevenifyouarenotnativetothecountry.
Aboveall,hestronglybelievesitisapositivecharacteristicofandcontributorto
Canadianculturethatshouldbesomethingtobeproudofsimplybecausepolitenessis
somethingthatisnotabundantenoughinotherpartsoftheworld.Canadiansarenice,
sometimesmaybeeventoonice.However,theextensiveuseofapologeticlanguagein
Canadiancultureisevidentandalive.Thetrueoriginofthistendencyisnotcompletely
clearbutperhapsitisaresultofseveralvarioushistorical,modernandpersonal
influencesthathavebeenimplementedinCanadiansocietythroughoutdifferent
generations.