Do any languages not have a term of apology, such as sorry?

Question

Do any languages not have a term of apology, such as sorry?

Question #126250. Asked by quogequox.
Last updated Jul 26 2021.

TimBentley
Answer has 2 votes

TimBentley
13 year member
83 replies

Answer has 2 votes.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sex-dawn/201204/being-pirah-means-never-having-say-youre-sorry quotes a book as saying the Pirahã language (a Amazonian language) as having no words for "I'm sorry."

http://www.johnholland.ws/home/wiptext says traditional African tribes have no word for "I'm sorry."

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_say_I%27m_sorry_in_Navajo says Navajo has no word for "I'm sorry."

Response last updated by satguru on Jul 26 2021.
Jun 24 2012, 8:56 PM

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Answer 1

Supposedly, there is at least one First Nations language in Canada that has no words for apologies, like "sory" because any act of repentance needs "to produce a tangible act in order for an apology to be of value."

I was unable to find the particular language, but there appears to be at least one!

http://peacebuildingontheprairies.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/no-words-for-im-sorry/