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Understanding of Korean Honorifics by L2 Korean Learners in Australia: A Socio-Pragmatic Perspective
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- Authors
- Issue Date
- 2022-12
- Citation
- Language Research, Vol.58 No.3 pp.223-245
- Keywords
- socio-pragmatic perspectives ; Korean honorifics ; L2 Korean ; politeness ; Korean learners in Australia
- Abstract
- The Korean language has an established honorific system that reflects the
Korean societys hierarchical and relational nature, where respect for elders and
individuals of higher social status must be shown through language (Brown,
2015). This cultural aspect poses significant challenges to L2 Korean learners.
Taking a socio-pragmatic perspective, this study explored how L1 English
speakers living outside the target language society comprehend and apply the
honorific system when speaking in L2 Korean. The study was conducted with
eight L1 English speakers learning Korean in Australia. All eight participants
completed a survey revealing their motivation for, first impression of, and
biggest hindrance in learning Korean. Next, seven of them were interviewed
concerning how they conceptualised, perceived, and used Korean honorifics.
The survey and interview data analysis showed that the participants appeared
to have a subjective attitude towards the application of honorifics instead of
considering the listeners relational status even when the honorific system had
been learned and mastered for a considerable period. Although the participants
were learning Korean while living outside the Korean society, which makes it
challenging to understand honorifics or establish conversational concepts
completely, they recognised honorifics as an important part of the Korean
language; however, this understanding was overpowered by their cultural
identity as Australians. The findings suggest that an L2 speaker is not a target-like object unconditionally accommodating socio-pragmatic elements but
rather a fluid speaker exercising subjectivity and autonomy.
- ISSN
- 0254-4474
- Language
- Korean
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