This study explores socio-pragmatic aspects of refusals in Korean. Past researches asserted that 1) Korean speakers seldom use direct refusal formulas (e.g., Byon 2003; Lyuh 1994; Sohn 1986) and 2) Korean speakers frequently employ statement of regret/apology when refusing (e.g., Byon 2003; Kwon 2004; Lyuh 1994). Upon analysing 133 refusals drawn from Korean drama data, four generalisations are formulated, two of which are in direct conflict with the findings of past studies. The four generalisations have been further substantiated through survey process of 118 native Korean speakers in Seoul, Korea. Through the use of drama data and reinforcement via surveys, this study proposed that 1) direct refusals (e.g., direct no, negatives willingness/ability) are a common attribute of Korean refusals (showing 23.8% of total semantic formulas in the drama data), to a much greater extent than previously thought. 2) Statement of regret/apology is not a common strategy employed by native Korean speakers (1.9% of total semantic formulas in the drama data) unless a large power and/or distance variable is involved. 3) Positive opinion/feeling (e.g., "I would love to but. .. ") is also not frequently employed by native Korean speakers. 4) Frequent uses of criticism of the request/requester etc. (15.3%) identified in the data were mostly in argumentative contexts and through the results of the survey, we argue that some offrecord strategies are equally strong or stronger than bald-on-record strategies. This study introduces the use of drama as a valuable source of near-natural speech data. To date, the use of drama data in analysing speech acts have been very limited. By analysing drama data, new aspects of Korean refusals have been uncovered. In particular, this study has been found that many of the refusals involve more the augmentation of face threat than its minimisation, unless there is a large power difference and/or a distance to maintain. This is seemingly in contrast to what is assumed in the politeness theory formulated by Brown and Levinson (1987).
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/258449 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Lee, Bo Hyun, Languages & Linguistics, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, UNSW |
| Publisher | Publisher:University of New South Wales. Languages & Linguistics |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/copyright, http://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/copyright |
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