This study is a middle language pragmatic research study into consolation language in order to understand the difficulties in realizing the act of speech even for a speaker who undertakes the act of speech as a mother tongue and who may undertake the ...
This study is a middle language pragmatic research study into consolation language in order to understand the difficulties in realizing the act of speech even for a speaker who undertakes the act of speech as a mother tongue and who may undertake the act of easily in daily life. The study conducted research into the pattern of the realization of speaking consolation language in a speaker group whose mother tongue is Korean and another speaker group whose mother tongue is Japanese in order to compare them with advanced learners of Korean in Japan. This thesis comprises the following.
In Chapter Ⅰ, the study described the need and objective of the research, and proposed a research project for this thesis based on the related results of existing research. There was a previous study on the act of speaking consolation language from the perspective of middle language pragmatics, but related research has been into the field of Japanese education; therefore, this study addressed the need for research that has a different objective and method from existing research in the field of the Korean language.
In Chapter Ⅱ, the study developed a new framework for analyzing strategies for consolation usable for this study by complementing and modifying the existing strategies for expressing consolation while depicting the concept of the speech-act and strategies for expressing consolation against the theoretical background.
In Chapter Ⅲ, the study designated advanced learners of Korean language in Japan as the target of the research, and introduced DCT as a test tool as the way of mentioning research methods. Ahead of this research, the study conducted a preliminary test on two small groups comprising Korean speakers (KNS) and advanced learners of Korean language in Japan (JKL) by using DCT, which is to be used for this test. The study collected the data of JNS by applying the preliminary test results, and decided to increase the number of members in each group. There were nine DCT situations in this test, and the set variables were subject type, interpersonal relation, and level of obligation. The study used the framework of analysis used in the preliminary test for analysis, after modification and complementation, for conducting this test.
In Chapter Ⅵ, the study mentioned the analysis results from data obtained through the test, and the results include the following.
First, in terms of the number of strategies used, JKL were shown to use fewer strategies than KNS but more strategies than JNS regardless of variables; therefore, JKL are found to use an intermediate level of strategies compared with the two other groups. For variable by subject type, JKL were shown to be close to KNS; however, for variable by interpersonal relation, JKL produced a sensitive response unlike the other two other groups, for which interpersonal relations are made within the mother tongue, since JKL is not a group that uses its mother tongue, but is in a relationship with speakers who have the target language that it is learning. The three groups used a smaller number of strategies in situations where they felt a comparatively heavier obligation, and they were likely to use a larger number of strategies in situations where they felt a comparatively lighter obligation.
Second, the type of strategies used can be explained with results shown through multiple response analysis. For the rate of using strategies directly or indirectly, all the three groups preferred an indirect strategy except for partial differences, and this means they express consideration for others by valuing interpersonal relations. Given the overall type of strategies used, in general, they did not show any big difference in preferred strategies for all variables. They consistently used strategies mainly for highlighting a positive aspect, such as implanting a positive perception in the current situation, proposal of positive outlook for future, and comforting or persuading listeners by changing their preference level according to variables. JKL used strategies that KNS and JNS used according to variables or used them almost like KNS; however, whereas the two speaker groups who commended a mother tongue preferred several strategies intensively according to variables, JKL were shown to use multiple strategies evenly. This appears to be because it was difficult for JKL to realize strategies after clearly deciding and determining which consolation strategy should be used in a certain situation, unlike the two other groups. Therefore, this may be interpreted that JKL still revealed the tendency of a middle language group that is still under the influence of the mother tongue, but is closer to the target language.
In Chapter Ⅴ, the study summarized the contents of this research as a conclusion.
This study is meaningful in that first, it focused on the research of consolation that may cause difficulties for Korean language learners but at the same time give chance to approach easily to the situation of the Korean language. Second, the study conducted research into consolation aimed at advanced learners in Japan not from the perspective of simple comparative analysis but from middle language pragmatics; therefore, the research results may function as useful data that offer pragmatic knowledge to foreign learners. Finally, given that the realization of the act of speaking consolation language, which even speakers whose mother tongue is Korean feel difficulty with, will double the difficulties of realizing the act of speaking consolation language for learners who study the Korean language, the study suggested that it is necessary to offer practical consolation language education in the field of Korean education so that speakers may realize the appropriate Korean consolation expression for consolatory situations in Korea.
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