초록 열기/닫기 버튼
This study aims to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the function of vocative postpositions in middle Korean. This work is based on the recognition of the fact that the existing binary interpretation of the functions of those postpositions as honorific (the case of 'ha') vs. non-honorific (the cases of 'ah' and 'yeo') discloses too many exceptional occasions. Partly adopting the classification in Ko (2005), which divided the function of modern vocative words into 'relative status denoting' and 'expressive' function, the present article reexamines the vocative postpositions in middle Korean. The analysis shows that all of the postpositions, namely, 'ha', 'ah' and 'yeo' fulfilled the 'relative status denoting' function,; 'ha' co-occurred with 'hashowshyeo' style and 'ah' and 'yeo', with 'hara' style. Regarding the 'expressive' function, on the other hand, 'ha' and 'yeo' were employed to show formality while the form 'ah' was used to show intimacy toward the addressee. And when the form 'ha' was used for formality, it co-occurred with 'hara' style.
