한국어 ‘공손성’의 문제: 높임법과 공손표현

A Study on 'Politeness' in Korean: Honorifics and Politeness Expressions

10.6624/PCCUJKS.2012.6

호정환

Politeness ； Honorifics ； Korean as a foreign language

韓國學研究論文集

1期（2012 / 08 / 01）

103 - 129

韓文

This study attempts to examine several problems related to politeness in Korean. Cross culturally politeness is considered as a major pragmatic strategy in communication. Majority of politeness studies are carried out in the English-speaking area, suggesting that politeness is based on a universal pattern and thus it is universal aspect of human communication. However, the issue of politeness in Korean should be approached differently from English and other western languages. That is, politeness in Korean primarily based on various forms of honorifics as a sociolinguistic norm which takes priority over anything else. The starting point of this study is that appropriate use of honorifics is the prerequisite and the necessary condition of politeness as well. However, the use of a higher level of honorifics does not necessarily mean a higher realization of politeness. Only utilizing pragmatic strategies with a firm footfold of honorifics can satisfy both the necessary and sufficient condition of politeness in Korean society. Besides using proper grammatical fashion as in honorifics, Korean can be more politely expressed when speakers a doptpragmaitc strategies in conversation. Pragmatic politeness tactics have a strong personal inclination with various kinds of expressions. As regards pragmatic politeness, this study attempts to categorize a variety and wide ran ge of politeness strategies into two domains: grammaticalization(discourse) and grammaticality. All strategies, that is, politeness expressions considered, individualy adopted and utilized diverse strategies operate pretty much on the principle that one must place higher value on others and lower value on self, and that the mechanism of politeness must be understood as indirect an d suggestive manner in order to weaken or minimize the negative effect of assertion, turning it into suggestion.