This paper aims to address grammaticalization of a defective verb takuta, focusing on its conjugated particle -taka in the construction of [noun/pronoun + case particle + taka], e.g., ultaka ‘Acc+taka,’ eytaka ‘Loc+taka,’ (u)lotaka ‘Inst+taka,’ hantheytaka ‘Dat+taka,’ eykeytaka ‘Dat+taka,’ yekitaka1 ‘here+taka,’ etc. In MK takuta regularly corresponded to Chinese characters 把/將(pha/cang) in translated forms, signifying ‘to possess,’ ‘to maintain,’ or ‘to grasp.’ The transitive verb takuta developed into an intransitive verb, an auxiliary, a particle, a connective marker, and a prefix, etc. Its meaning ‘to draw near’ emerged in process of grammaticalization from its origin. Taka in the construction of [noun/pronoun + case particle + taka] can be contracted to just ta. The deletion of -taka does not affect the grammaticality of the construction, but nullifies emphasis which a speaker intends to express. Its grammaticalization will be accounted for by the mechanisms such as analogy, reanalysis, de-categorization, generalization, subjectification, etc. Usaged-based corpus analysis shows the diachronic and synchronic trend of -taka in Korean.

• 예선희(중앙대학교)