Grammatical Features of the Korean Language, found in the Early 20th-century Spoken Corpuses

Abstract

This study examined three major aspects of grammatical features of the early 20th-century Korean language, found in the literature “Korea University’s Spoken Corpuses: the First Half of the 20th Century” constructed up to now. First, the characteristic features appearing in the phonological system and phenomena of the 20th-century Korean language were examined, based on the fact that the speech sound can be verified directly. Second, the final forms and endings of utterance, which are seen in many forms in conversations between the speaker and the listener, were examined, based on the aspect that these forms and endings are elements in the spoken form. Finally, colloquial expressions that are rather different from those of the present or are seldom used in present were examined. While the early 20th-century spoken corpuses in the Korean language are similar to the present spoken corpuses, they also have differences. The vowel system of the early 20th-century spoken corpuses is different from that of that currently used, and so are the usage of some endings, words or idiomatic expressions. Thus, when you can specifically define the characteristics of the early 20th-century Korean language by systematically analyzing how it is different from the Korean language used today, study on the grammar of the 20th-century Korean language as the transition between the modern Korean language and the contemporary Korean language and as the beginning of the contemporary Korean language will become more active.