A Corpus-Based Analysis Of Register Variation In Korean

Abstract

Abstract There have been numerous linguistic comparisons of speech and writing. Earlier studies often assumed a dichotomy between the two modes, while more recent studies have shown that there is considerable variation within each mode and considerable overlap in the linguistic characteristics of many spoken and written registers. However, few studies have analyzed the patterns of register variation in non Western languages. The present study helps to fill this gap by investigating the linguistic variation among spoken and written registers in contemporary Korean. We adopt the multidimensional approach to identify underlying dimensions of variation in Korean, and we analyze the relations among registers along these dimensions, with special reference to the spoken and written modes. This study is the first attempt at a macroscopic discourse analysis of Korean; previous analyses of Korean have been microscopic. While a macroscopic approach seeks to define the overall parameters of variation among registers, a microscopic approach focuses on the discourse functions of individual linguistic features in particular registers. For example, Hwang (1981) discusses aspects of discourse structure in written narratives such as folktales and fiction; Lukoff (1986) studies tense variation in written narratives; Lee and Thompson (1987) study the variable deletion of accusative markers in spoken· dialogues and narratives; Choi (1988) investigates textual coherence features in English and Korean argumentative essays; and Lee (1989) analyzes referential choices in conversations and personal letters. Microscopic and macroscopic analyses have complementary strengths.