한국의 공손한 언동의 작동 양상: 문학 작품에 나타난 언중들의 공손에 대한 인식을 바탕으로 The operative aspects of polite speech and behavior in Korea: Based on the perceptions of the Korean public for politeness in the literature.
pp.277-308
This paper aimed to discuss the operative aspects of politeness from two perspectives (i.e., social duty and intentional strategy) by examining the Korean public perceptions presented within the Korean literature texts. As the Korean social duties for politeness presuppose the recognition of status, the speech and behaviors of superiors and inferiors are distinct and fixed. Thus, the truth is concealed to respect superiors’ status while inferiors are forced to do self-depreciation. In addition, speech and behavior for solidarity and fellowship are considered as ones that inferiors dare not perform to superiors, and instead are replaced by obedience and permission to superiors. The intentional strategies of inferiors to superiors for individual profits run outwardly in parallel with polite behaviors performing social duties. However, when they do not bring any profits, the polite speech and behavior disappears, thus bringing about relative betrayal. On the other hand, the intentional politeness of superiors to inferiors is marked in Korea. It is performed to trade profits with each other and recognized according to a hearer’s subjective perspective and emotion. In this way, Korean politeness in terms of the social norms operates in the boundary between harmony and betrayal.