An Information-Status Theory of Case and NP Deletion in Korean : With a Focus on the Realization of Object

Abstract

This paper examines the realization of the object and object case marker in Korean by means of a Quantitative analysis of naturally occurring data, and provides a unified analysis of what determines the optional or obligatory realization of objects and the object marker through the information status theory of Prince (1992), the cognitive hierarchy theory of Gundel et al. (1993) and a focus theory of Vallduvi and Vilkuna (1998). In a statistical analysis of the data, it is shown that the realization of the object and object case marker in Korean is closely related to the formality of the speech. It is also proposed that the object case marker -lul is a delimiter that conveys kontrastive function, evoking a set of alternative members. This paper provides a typological addition to ways of information packaging by showing that morphology is exploited for conveying information in Korean while some languages mainly exploit syntax and/or prosody.