한국어 공감 대화 구조 연구 - 대화 참여자 간 사회적 친소관계를 중심으로 -

Abstract

This study examines the structure and patterns of empathic dialogue in the Korean language by analyzing how intimate relationships between interlocutors influence the organization of dialogue. Empathy functions as a core communicative act that goes beyond mere emotional sharing to preserve social solidarity and relationships. By adopting a conversation analysis framework, this study explores how empathy is linguistically realized through interactions. It categorizes empathic dialogue into three stages, opening, development, and closing, and investigates how the modes and intensities of empathic expression vary depending on the level of intimacy. The analysis reveals that emotionally rich and direct expressions predominate in intimate relationships, whereas indirect and polite expressions prevail in less intimate relationships, reflecting social distance. Notably, in the closing stage of a conversation, culturally embedded suggestions for joint actions, such as “Let’s have a meal sometime,” are commonplace. These expressions imply a deepening of relational ties and serve as linguistic devices that embody Korea's collectivist culture and the sociocultural function of empathic dialogue. This study offers empirical insights into the prototypical structure and contextual variations of empathic dialogue in Korean, contributing to a broader understanding of the role of empathic dialogue in the formation of social relationships.