15세기 선어말어미 연구 - 선어말어미 ‘-더-’, ‘-거-’와 ‘-오-’의 소멸에 대한 일고찰 -

Abstract

This study explores the disappearance process and combination patterns of pre-final endings ‘-o-’, ‘-deo-’, and ‘-geo-’ in 15th-century Korean grammar. Specifically, it examines how the pre-final ending ‘-o-’ faded over time and why its rate of disappearance differed when combined with other pre-final endings like ‘-deo-’ and ‘-geo-’. In 15th-century Korean literature, the pre-final ending ‘-o-’ appeared in various forms but gradually disappeared, providing a critical clue to understanding the grammatical changes in Middle Korean. The study found that ‘-o-’ was used in connective endings, terminal endings, and noun phrase-embedded clauses, with its disappearance rate varying across these linguistic environments. The research particularly focused on the slower disappearance of ‘-o-’ when combined with the pre-final ending ‘-si-’, which signifies honorifics. This phenomenon suggests that ‘-si-’ played a significant role in the sociocultural and linguistic context of the time. In contrast, ‘-deo-’ and ‘-geo-’, which are related to past tense and aspect, underwent relatively rapid reduction. This outcome is attributed to the social importance of honorific expressions and the universality of tense and aspect markers in grammatical usage. The findings indicate that ‘-o-’ was gradually perceived as a redundant element in certain contexts and thus faded from use. Its disappearance was faster in connective and terminal endings but was retained for a longer time in noun phrase-embedded clauses. This suggests that ‘-o-’ was not essential for conveying meaning in specific environments. Moreover, ‘-deo-’ and ‘-geo-’ gradually lost their roles in expressing tense and state, while ‘-o-’ combined with ‘-si-’ remained significant as a marker of social hierarchy and relationships, leading to its prolonged usage. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the systematic grammatical changes in 15th-century Korean and offers a deeper understanding of the disappearance process of pre-final endings in the history of Korean grammar. The disappearance of ‘-o-’ was not merely a morphological change but was closely tied to the social and cultural factors of the period.