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Features of an improvement-request utterance in Korean, Chinese and Japanese from a pragmatic perspective: By analyzing adjacent pair conversations

  • The Japanese Language Association of Korea
  • Abbr : JLAK
  • 2024, (80), pp.191-210
  • DOI : 10.14817/jlak.2024.80.191
  • Publisher : The Japanese Language Association Of Korea
  • Research Area : Humanities > Japanese Language and Literature
  • Received : April 9, 2024
  • Accepted : May 17, 2024
  • Published : June 20, 2024

JungHyunAa 1

1명지대학교(서울캠퍼스) 인문과학연구소

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This study analyses features of interaction in Korean, Chinese and Japanese by extracting dialogues in adjacent pairs, which consist of an improvement-request utterance and a reaction to the request, from data on expressions of dissatisfaction. As a result of analysis, when requesting an improvement’, Korean, Chinese and Japanese speakers commonly use an act of ‘Request for improvement in future behavior’, and of ‘Pointing out others’ repeated behavior’. Among ‘improvement-request utterances’, an act of ‘Request for improvement in future behavior’ is considered interpersonally to be a more considerate speech act than ‘Subjunctive pointing out others’ behavior’, ‘Ironic pointing out others’ behavior’, ‘Pointing out others’ repeated behavior’, and ‘Mentioning one's own disadvantages’, which point out others’ behavior directly. It is also shown that this speech act is more frequently used by Japanese than Korean and Chinese. In addition, the act of ‘Pointing out others’ repeated behavior’ is overwhelmingly used more frequently by 40% by Korean females compared to male and female college students in China and Japan and Korean males. This shows Korean females sensitively react to others’ repeated dissatisfactory behavior, and also shows a strong tendency to point this out to them bluntly. In the adjacent pair of ‘Request for improvement in future behavior’, Korean males and females, Japanese females and Chinese males all show positive speech such as 100% agreement, apology, and promise to improve behavior. However, 15% of Japanese males and 20% of Chinese females show negative speech such as avoidance of responsibility, disagreement, and self-defense.

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