In any case, the apology is a notoriously tricky speech act, one that frequently involves expedient self-exculpation rather than a genuine plea for forgiveness from another. 无论何时,道歉是司空见惯的狡猾说辞,他总是不停找有利的自我开脱,却不是真正的恳求一个人的原谅.
exculpation
[ noun ]
a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.
<noun.communication> he kept finding excuses to stay every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job his transparent self-justification was unacceptable
the act of freeing from guilt or blame
<noun.act>
Exculpation \Ex`cul*pa"tion\, n. [Cf. LL. exculpatio.] The act of exculpating from alleged fault or crime; that which exculpates; excuse.
These robbers, however, were men who might have made out a strong case in exculpation of themselves. --Southey.