The Issues on Studies of Korean Adverbs-Perspective on Discourse and pragmatics

Abstract

Korean adverb is one of part of speech that is categorized by meaning, form and function in sentences. The function of adverbs is said that they modify verbs in sentences or they modify sentences at beginning sentences. But Korean adverbs have various functions in discourse. The first, ‘그런데, 그리고, 그러나, ...’ among the adverbs are used for intensifying cohesion in discourse. And ‘근데, 그니까, 그래서, 그럼, 하여튼, ...’ among the adverbs are used as discourse markers that display discourse border such as introduction, change and finishing of topic. ‘그니까, 하긴, 설마, ...’ are used as semi-yes/no responses and ‘정말, 진짜, 그냥, ...’ are used as speech act sentences for demanding or threatening in conversations. And ‘혹시, 아마, 그냥, 막, ...’ are used as discourse markers that strengthen or weaken speaker’s speech representing for speaker’s mental attitudes. Lastly the functions of ‘차라리, 오히려, 물론, ...’ can be known through discourse premise.