E305/505 Korean Language and Culture

Extended use of Kin terms

1. Korean language particularly develop interesting address patterns using kin terms that can be characterized as teknonymy and geononymy. What are they and why has such a system developed?

2. Kin terms are used beyond the canonical kin relations in Korean.

Extension of kin terms to non-kin:

• halapôci 'grandpa' > 'old man'
  
• halmôni 'grandma' > 'old woman'
  
• acôssi 'uncle' > middle-aged man'
  
• acumma 'aunt' > 'middle-aged woman'
  
• ônni 'older sister for a female' > female senior for a female'
  
• oppa 'older brother for a female' > 'male senior for a female'
  
• hyông 'older brother for a male' > 'male senior for a male'
  
• nuna 'older sister for a male' > 'female senior for a male'
  
• hyôngce 'brothers' > 'male church member'
  
• camae 'sisters' > 'female church member'
  
  
  Why are kin terms extended to refer to non-kins?
  

Kim (1999):

1. What are the two theories about cross-adoption of language between different genders?
   
   What is the general hypothesis of Lakoff (1975) about cross-adoption of language between different genders?
   
   Why does it happen in the way it does?
   
   
2. What are some differences between Western societies and Korean society in address patterns?
   
   
   
3. M. Kim discusses two cases of cross-adaptation of language between different genders; one is the female use of male kin term hyông (or hyeng) 'older brother for male,' the other is the male use of female kin term ônni (or enni) 'older sister for female.' How do these two cases fit the general hypothesis of Lakoff (1975)?
   
   
   
4. What are the main factors of the cross-adaptation of language that occurred in Korea?
   
   
   
5. The adaptation of the male kin term hyông/hyeng by female speakers was most popular among student activitists in the 80's. Why?
   
   
   
6. How has the use of the female kin term ônni/enni by the male speaker spread?
   
   
7. How can we characterize the changes in usage of the term?