‘만큼’의 의미-기능적 특성에 대한 일고

Abstract

This article aims to study several usages of mankeum in the aspect of semantico-functional change. The argued results are summarized as follows: [1] The bound noun mankeum meaning basically ‘degree of equivalence’ appears as a noun phrase, composed of {determiner/ modifier form +mankeum+case marker}. [2] The constructions of {modifier form+mankeum} are divided into three types. Mankeum meaning ‘a degree’ responds to the adnominal ending form ‘-ㄹ,’ assuming the feature [-certainty], whereas mankeum meaning ‘a cause’ responds to the adnominal ending form ‘-ㄴ’ assuming the feature [+certainty]. The construction {-ㄹ+mankeum} is not an antecedent clause of the subordinate conjoined sentence, but an embedded adverbial sentence functioning as an adverbial phrase within the main sentence, whereas the construction {-ㄴ+mankeum} functions as an antecedent clause of the subordinate conjoined sentence. Lastly, the construction {-는+mankeum} meaning ‘a degree of proportion’ also functions as an antecedent clause of the subordinate conjoined sentence. [3] Mankeum is widely used as three types of postpositional particle such as a special particle, a comparative marker or a compound particle. First, mankeum as a special particle appears with the construction {N+mankeum+case marker}. In this case {N+mankeum} can be paraphrased into the construction {Ni(/eul) -neun+mankeum} where N appears as a subject NP or as an object NP of the same predicate as the main sentence. This shows that mankeum is changed from a bound noun into a special particle. Second, mankeum appears as a comparative marker with the construction {N+mankeum}. Third, mankeum appears as a compound particle like Nmankeum-eun, Nmankeum-iya, Nmankeum-do, Nmankeum-irado, Nmankeum-ina, or Nmankeum-man when it is fused with a particle like eun, (i)ya, do, (i)rado, (i)na, or man. These compound particles signify a new meaning respectively. To sum up, the word mankeum is not just divided into two usages such as a bound noun and a postpositional particle. From the point of view of semantico-functional change, it has several usages like an adverbial clausal ending, a conjunctional ending, a special particle, a comparative marker or a compound particle, which emerges from the fusion with an adnominal ending or with a particle.