Morpho-phonological Variation and Emotional Attitudes of Ideophones in Korean, Compared to English

In this study, we examine the pragmatics and semantics surrounding emotive ideophones in Korean, compared to English, treating them as a subset of expressive elements, which are analyzed within the framework of conventional implicature (Potts 2005). By delving into the intricate connotational nuances present in both positive and negative variants of ideophones, we demonstrate how systematic phonetic and morphological alterations contribute to the generation of numerous derivations. A notable feature of Korean ideophones, distinct from English, lies in their ability to convey the speaker’s emotional stance—either positive or negative—through specific derivations of ideophonic terms, in addition to their inherent meaning pertaining to sound, shape, or movement. To elucidate the subtle emotional differences, a hybrid analysis of ideophones is proposed, situated at the intersection of pragmatics and semantics. This approach effectively captures the nuanced differences across a wide array of ideophonic variants. Through a meticulous examination of potential variants for ideophones, the study aims to unveil the systematic nature of expressive elements within our grammatical structure. Finally, the identification of yet another instance of expressive elements in language lends support to the concept of multidimensionality.