교회 안에서의 특정 어휘의 의미 변화 양상에 대한 연구

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore aspects of semantic changes in church terms. Though the core goal of Christianity is to convert non-believers, the problem of communication due to the gap between languages of church and non-believers make it difficult. The problem of church terms is due to the wrong translation of the Bible at the outset, pastors’misuse in terms of authoritarianism, and failure of revision into adequate terms. We should have precise understanding of the condition of the use of church terms in order to establish correct church terms and make communication with non-believers smooth. Based on such a critical recognition, this study thus explores aspects of semantic changes in church terms. For this study, I have selected about 240 church terms from the Bible that are used in Christian doctrines, church services, preaches, and social relations among believers. Furthermore, I have compared and analyzed the meanings of the church terms included in the Standard Unabridged Korean Dictionary and those actually used in churches in various cases. Chapter 2 sees that church terms found their places from the adaptation and use of existing terms in the stage of past translations, went through the course of widening, narrowing, and shift, and is in progress of change even now. In particular, the important characteristics of semantic changes in church terms include semantic widening due to ‘generalization of meanings’ and semantic narrowing due to ‘particularization of meanings.’Chapter 3 classifies those terms that are undergoing semantic changes due to synonymic competition, and analyzes aspects of their changes. These synonyms were used together in the early translation process, and still are often used together. In particular, it has been found out that ‘Gyeongbae (worship), Ijeok (miracle), Hananim (God) ’etc. were used among other terms on purpose in order to distinguish God from idols. More studies that try to precisely grasp the condition of church term usages are needed in future, and other studies that analyze aspects of the use of church terms as social dialects are necessary.