Gender of the Apologiser as a Social Factor in the Selection of Apology Strategies

"Politeness" is a culturally defined pattern of language use that enables the speaker to formulate appropriate speech acts like an apology. The act apology part pragmatics study and belongs expressive acts. However, it cannot be separated from sociolinguistics because social factors such as context, gender, participants' relationship can all have impact on how apologizers make their apologies. selection formulas strategies pay off violations norms considered hard task since based some cultural norms. Thus, present aims used by Iraqi male/female postgraduate students at University Anbar, in addition investigating effect gender polite strategies. An oral Discourse Completion Task was data collection instrument, supported semi-structured interview. has been analysed using descriptive analysis method, Leech’s (2014) classification findings revealed "expressing regret" most frequently strategy. Furthermore, both genders different indirect support Both new supporting move, which "admitting responsibility for in-group member’s fault." In conclusion, participants slight choice Moreover, status age were effective compared others.