어미 체계와 통사 기술

Abstract

In light of the fact that the syntactic descriptions of Korean can be reformulated on the basis of characteristics of verbal endings, I have attempted to define the concept of a verbal ending in Korean and to refine the systems of it. 1. The definition of a verbal ending A verbal ending refers to the inflectional morphological construction of a verb that performs the syntactic function of the sentences 2. The criteria for the classification of verbal ending systems The principal criteria for the classification of verbal endings lies in whether or not these are able to construct Complex-sentences, and I have named the former Complex-sentence constructing endings, while the latter Syntactic functional endings. These are further subclassified on the basis of syntactic functions for the former, and distributory behavior for the latter. The classification so advanced in here adopts the most natural basis for the syntactic descriptions of Korean by stressing the concept of sentenceconstruction and is able to offer explanatory solutions to the thus-far muddled concept of subordinating endings vs. adverbial endings, while at the same time shedding new light on some morphemes formerly construed to be auxiliary stems by allowing them a separate syntactic category. 3. The system of verbal endings The following is a table of verbal ending classifications according to the criteria set forth under heading 2. (1) Complex-sentence constructing endings a. Conjunction endings b. Embedding endings (2) Syntactic functional endings a. Conclusive endings b. Non-conclusive endings 4. Verbal endings and syntactic descriptions Verbal endings serve as mechanisms of explanatory power behind much disparate syntactic phenomena and a systematization of them is thus able to pave the way for reformulating these phenomena in terms of characteristic verbal endings.