Yup. I would indeed take it to mean "apologies that i am butchering this language and/or its grammar". Same thing in The Netherlands: if you're excusing your co

Yup. I would indeed take it to mean "apologies that i am butchering this language and/or its grammar". Same thing in The Netherlands: if you're excusing your command of the language, that's polite. If you want to request something, you'd ask. Eg, "nicht zo schnell, bitte".