Grammaticalization of Topic-indicating Postpositions Tayhay and Kwanhay

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the grammaticalization of the postpositions -ey tayhay and -ey kwanhay. These two Korean postpositions are derived from verbs which are of Sino-Korean origin. Since they are derived from verbs, their meanings are transparent (V-adpositions, Heine 1997). Still, the postpositions allow the insertion of other morphemes at the end of their construction; thus, they are in the early grammaticalization stage and show the correlated changes suggested by Traugott (2013). The correlated principles and mechanisms captured in the two postpositions will be explained. By using a corpus, we will compare differences in frequency between the two postpositions as well. Also, English prepositions that have a relational meaning like the above mentioned Sino-Korean postpositions will be discussed to show the relationship between a source meaning and a target meaning.