KJCKorea
Journal Central

The study thus provides an empirical and theoretical foundation for future standardization of inter-Korean biological nomenclature and cognitively oriented lexical integration. This study investigates the naming patterns of fish nomenclature in South and North Korea through the lens of onomasiological word-formation theory. An analysis of 395 fish species sharing identical Latin names was conducted to examine the bidirectional process of conceptualization and lexicalization, focusing on the combinatory principles between the onomasiological base (X) and mark (Y). Consequently, 68% (n = 270) of the data exhibited conceptual convergence, indicating shared cognitive categorization across the two speech communities. However, systematic variation emerged in lexicalization: 27% (n = 74) of the cases displayed complete correspondence, 26% (n = 69) partial discrepancy, and 47% (n = 127) full divergence. The most frequent structural pattern was <Quality + Substance>—the perceptual attributes of fish constitute primary conceptual foci in both linguistic systems. Overall, these results indicate that although the South and North Korean lexicons have originated from a common cognitive foundation, they have developed distinct expressive norms and naming strategies. Thus, this study provides an empirical and theoretical basis for future standardization of inter-Korean biological nomenclature and cognitively oriented lexical integration.

onomasiological word-formation, conceptualization–lexicalization, national fish names, words of North and South Korea, onomasiological approach, cognitive motivation in naming