epistemological/linguistic question

[netmouse]

When someone says something you didn't hear or you weren't sure you heard correctly, and you say "sorry?" or "excuse me?" to get them to repeat or clarify, would you say you are in fact apologizing at that point, or are those words filling some other social or technical purpose?

Also, is there another similarly polite way to tell someone you couldn't hear them that is not an apology?

I suppose "could you repeat that?" comes to mind, but I'd welcome other ideas.

Comments

[sarahf.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess it fills both functions, but in the polite social sense of taking the blame upon yourself for not hearing them properly, rather than blaming them for not speaking clearly. So, it can be read as "Excuse me, could you repeat that because I didn't hear you clearly," or "I'm sorry, but I wasn't able to hear what you said. Could you repeat yourself." Linguistically and conventionally, you're "apologizing" for putting them to the inconvenience of repeating themselves for your benefit.

"Pardon me?" comes to mind as a replacement, but I guess that also means, "Pardon me for not hearing you properly. Could you repeat yourself," but because it sounds more English, it therefore sounds more condescending.

Hrm.