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/home/karlrees/public_html/gallery2/bla I'm sorry | Wayne and Rebecca Madsen

I'm sorry

wayne's picture

It is interesting to watch the more complex nuances of language develop with Paela. She recently started apologizing for everything. She would say things like "I'm sorry, but I don't have shoes." I would remind her that there was nothing to apologize for, as she had done nothing wrong. She would also say things like "I'm sorry, but I can't play trains." This continued to confuse us until we realized that her usage of the apologetic phrase was more metonymic than we had presupposed.

Her "I'm sorry" became similar in usage to ours when we would say something like "I'm sorry, but you can't do that Paela" or "I'm sorry, but it is time to go to bed." Usually, these forms of apology come with the refusal or denial of active participation -- which usually results in a feeling of implied sadness on the part of both parties in the dialog. Similarly, you may go up to someone who has had a relative pass away and declare "I'm sorry that your [friend/spouse/family] has died." This form of an apology isn't really an apology and makes no sense, but is a method of sympathizing with a partner and declaring your mutual feelings of loss. 

Paela figured that out, she just uses it in a weird way.