사실성 부사 ‘정말’과 ‘사실’의 구어에서의사용 양상과 기능

Abstract

Korean realistic adverbs ‘정말’ and ‘사실’ have very similar meanings. However, the two adverbs show a syntactic and pragmatic difference. ‘정말’ is used as a function of reinforcing the statement in an utterance that meets the listener’s expectations or premises. On the other hand, ‘사실’ is used to alleviate the impact that a statement will have on the listener in an utterance contrary to the listener’s expectations or premises. In addition, syntactically, ‘정말’ can be used in all sentence types, yet ‘정말’ can only be used for declarative sentences. ‘정말’ is a modifier at the level of a sentence, clause, or phrase, while ‘사실’ is a modifier at the level of a sentence or clause. In spoken corpus, ‘정말’ is more commonly used for informal discourse and conversation, while ‘사실’ is more commonly used for formal discourse and discussion. Moreover, in monologues or conversations that state one’s own experiences, ‘정말’ was used to strengthen the truth of the statement to reduce the listener’s doubts about the speaker’s saying. On the other hand, in lecture discourse or monologue, ‘사실’ was used as a kind of mitigation device to allow them to accept the speaker’s statement without resistance. In particular, in the discussion, it was used as a strategy to ask for understanding that the speaker’s statement could be contrary to the expectations of the listener or could be a non-preferred statement to the listener, emphasizing that his or her statement was a fact.