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

[matt-arnold.livejournal.com]

[begin pedant mode]This is a good question, and it's certainly linguistic, but it's not an epistemological question.[/pedantry] ;^)

There are degrees of apology. This could be considered a very small apology for a very small offense, that of distracted attention. So small, in fact, that we may wonder if it's an offense at all; and so small an apology that if the blame really lies on the speaker for mumbling, we figure we may as well not quibble.