Multiple Subjects and Multiple Direct Objects in Korean

Abstract

The paper discusses multiple same-case noun strings in a Korean clause. The notion of prolepsis is introduced (a detached fronted clause element expressing the Theme or the Focalized Rheme). The distinction is drawn between the unmarked (= zero marked) nominative case and the –ka/-i marked subjective case. General formal definitions of syntactic subject and direct object are proposed. It is shown that: 1) a string of multiple subjective nouns in Korean is resolved in one of the three following ways: Rhematic Prolepses + Subject, Subject + Agentive Complement (of a non-finite form), and Subject + Quasi-Conjuncts (clause elements adding a semantic elaboration to the preceding element); 2) a string of multiple accusative nouns is resolved in one of the four following ways: Indirect Object + Direct Object, Direct Object + Quasi-Direct Object (a clause element forming a whole with a light verb), Direct Object (of the Main Verb) + Direct Object of a non-finite form, and Direct Object + Quasi-Conjuncts.