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`omou` and `saenggakhada` as Politeness Strategy Using as Assertives

이봉 1

1北海道大学

Accredited

ABSTRACT

There has been increasing studies on the different usage of ‘omou’and ‘saeng gakhada’in recent years. Prior research did not include a theoretical concept of ‘omou’ and ‘saenggakhada’and therefore was unable to provide a scientific expl anation in the comparative analysis of these two words. Drawing on the notion of hedge and politeness theory, this paper focuses on ‘omou’ and ‘saenggakhada’ used as assertives for politeness strategy. Prior research has shown that ‘omou’and ‘saenggakhada’ co-occurs with a se ntence which has illocutionary force as assertives. However, applying the “wei ghtiness (W) of a face-threatening act (FTAx)” from theory of politeness by Brown & Levinson (1978/1987) as a theoretical framework for the analysis, this paper finds that ‘omou’ is used as hedge in a sentence which has illocut ionary force as assertives, regardless of the degree of distance (D) and extent of risk (R). In contrast, ‘saenggakhada’ is constrained when used as hedge in a sentence which has illocutionary force as assertives in following incidences : a) where risk (R) is high and distance (D) is far, b) where risk (R) is low an d distance (D) is far in the value of relationship. According to Itani (1996), “cultural aspects play an important role since the ‘appropriate’ amount of social hedging varies from culture to culture.” Using ‘o mou’ and ‘saenggakhada’ as hedge supports this observation, and it can be wit nessed in the context of both languages - Japanese and Korean.

Citation status

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