earticle

영어

The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of the Korean pre-final ending ‘-si-’ by focusing on the phenomenon of its use beyond the function of subject elevation. In the existing literature, it has been seen that ‘-si-’ can also be used to exalt the hearer in face-to-face situations even if the subject of the predicate is not the subject of exaltation. Furthermore, ‘-si-’ no longer functions only as a subject honorific marker, but also as a hearer honorific marker. To identify the characteristics of sentences with the expanded ‘-si-’, a survey was conducted on the acceptability of sentences in which the ‘-si-’ is extensively used among 100 native Korean speakers. The results show that it can be said that the degree of closeness between the object in the subject position and the hearer is an important clue that determines whether a sentence in which ‘-si-’ is used extensively can be acceptable. In other words, even if the same thing comes in the place of the subject, if it is the possession of the hearer or the attribute belonging to the hearer, ‘-si-’ can be used with the predicate, otherwise ‘-si-’ cannot be used. This suggests that ‘-si-’ is not simply a pre-final ending that indicates respect for the subject, but rather a pre-final ending related to respect for the hearer.