In this paper, we discuss some of the topics we have been addressing in our contrastive study of Japanese and Korean. We make three recommendations for the advancement of this study, based on the research results and remaining issues.
First, we discuss the importance of a syntactic approach for the contrastive study of Japanese and Korean, while indicating our research on voice systems. The Japanese nominal verbs and the corresponding Korean noun + hata form (하다 form) or noun + toyta form (되다 form) are difficult for learners of either language to master, and the analysis of hata and toyta forms cannot be overlooked when considering the Korean voice system. Given the many unresolved voice-related issues for Japanese and Korean, our first recommendation is that further educational and linguistic research is required.
Second, we discuss a survey on the interpersonal behavior of Japanese and Korean youth and subsequent changes in this behavior to demonstrate the need for a sociolinguistic approach. We pointed out that recent survey-based research in Japan and Korea indicates changes in viewpoints between the current period and 20 years ago, and identifies some of the contributing factors, including the reduction in face-to-face communication due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is possible that such changes are temporary. In light of the changes in society resulting from the pandemic, our second recommendation is that sociolinguistic contrastive studies should be conducted to consider such language behavior and other aspects.
Third, we analyze “noun-final sentences” in order to consider the necessity of a discourse-theoretic approach, which has been gaining popularity in recent years. The reason for the higher frequency of noun-final sentences in Japanese compared to Korean can be attributed to the difference between Korean and Japanese sentences, with the former emphasizing the predicate and the latter not necessarily requiring a predicate. In other words, the reason comes down to a syntactic difference. However, the difference between the two languages also seems to be related to a difference in the manner of expression, with Japanese focusing on the state of the other party in understanding a situation, whereas Korean focuses on the movement of the other party. Thus, in addition to syntactic factors, discourse factors such as situation and mode of expression may contribute to the differences between the two languages. Thus, our third recommendation is that contrastive studies should be conducted that consider spoken language and discourse.