"I'm sorry"

[jbsegal]

English needs seperate terms for "It is my fault and I apologize" and "I am unhappy in sympathy with your unhappiness".

Am I just showing a lacuna in my vocabulary?

Comments

[gentlescholar.livejournal.com]

How about "I sympathize"?

Actually, I have a guess why the language is confusing that way. I think that sometimes two people are fighting, and one says, "I'm sorry" to the other, and then the fight stops. Person A making the statement is willing to go far enough to express sympathy but not responsibility for B's plight, and B would not stand for anything less than a claim of responsibility, so peace is established on a fraudulent basis.

Beats killin' each other.