‘그래 가지고’의 기능과 화용론적 의미 고찰 - 일상 담화를 중심으로 -

Abstract

This study reexamines the discourse functions and pragmatic meanings of the Korean discourse marker ‘kurae kajiko (‘so then’)’, which is frequently used in everyday conversation but has not been thoroughly analyzed from a pragmatic perspective. While previous studies have identified functions such as causal connection, topic shift, and hesitation, this paper classifies them into three core discourse functions: causal relation, topic shift, and discourse pause. Notably, the concept of “discourse pause” is proposed as a unified term encompassing previously scattered labels such as “stalling,” “returning to topic,” and “hesitation,” thereby providing a more coherent account of its role in discourse management. Furthermore, the analysis of naturally occurring spoken data reveals two major pragmatic functions: justification and empathy elicitation. The former includes both active attempts to persuade the hearer and passive strategies for avoiding responsibility. The latter shows how ‘kurae kajiko’ facilitates emotional alignment by narrowing the psychological distance between speaker and listener, particularly when expressing emotional responses to events. These findings demonstrate that ‘kurae kajiko’ has undergone grammaticalization beyond its role as a discourse connector and now functions as a strategic pragmatic device in Korean conversation.