부정 극어 ‘절대(로)’의 의미 고찰

Abstract

The usages of the adverbs ‘절대’ and ‘절대로’ have been regarded as negative polarity items. Nevertheless, there are several cases where the words have been used in an affirmative statement. In this case, it may be considered the speaker's grammatical error in an individual level. Despite being perceived as negative polarity items, the duplicity of the words ‘절대’ and ‘절대로’ cannot be thoroughly analyzed through synchronic and semantic analysis. Thus, this study focuses on the influx and combination relation of ‘절대’ and ‘적’, along with the likelihood to be omitted. In addition, through examining the combination and ellipsis of case particle, a conclusion as follows was derived. Firstly, ‘적’ was introduced from Japan along with word like ‘절대’ around the same time, assigning semantic features of ‘tend to’ and ‘nature of’ to the tone of word. Thus, if the tone of noun has a strong meaning, adding ‘적’ euphemizes the overall tone. Namely, it is both used in negative and affirmative statements. Secondly, ‘절대’ or ‘절대적’ can combine with ‘-(으)로’, used as an adverb, to form ‘(가)절대로’. ‘(가)절대로’ is only used in nega- tive statement, whereas ‘(다)절대적으로’ is both used in negative and affirmative statements. Thirdly, ‘-적’ can be omitted from ‘(다)절대적으로’ to form ‘(라) 절대로’. This morphologically corresponds to ‘(가)절대로’ which is only used in negative statement. Therefore, these two could collide, causing confusion. Fourthly, ‘-로’ can be omitted from ‘(라)절대로’, as an adjunct component possible to be deleted, to form ‘(마)절대’. This mor- phologically corresponds to ‘(나)절대’, formed through deletion of ‘-로’ from ‘(가)절대로’. This as well as may clash, causing confusion. To sum it up, ‘절대’ or ‘절대로’ can be split into two parts in regard of semantic structure. Even though each part possesses different meanings, in language of life, the final form may be identical. Thus, individual differences should be taken into account when judging whether the statement is right or wrong. Through the study of semantical meaning and morphological form of a word, the conversion of the part of speech can be explained.