‘선생님’ 호칭 사용에 관한 한일대조연구

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare and contrast the use of the address form, ‘sunsengnim/sensei(先生)' in various occupations in Korea and Japan from the sociolinguistic point of view. Differences and similarities found from the analysis are turned out as follow: (1) The address form, ‘sunsengnim/sensei' in both languages are used for school teachers and medical doctors with the highest frequency. On the other hand, a different aspect is shown in addressing people in different occupations in each language. ‘Sunsengnim' in Korean is used mostly for calling people who work as school teachers, administrators, writers, pharmacists, or nurses, while ‘sensei' in Japanese is used for school teachers, medical doctors or lawyers in relatively higher frequency. This address form seems to be more generalized in Korean society than in Japan. (2) Reasons for addressing the others ‘sunsengnim/sensei' have some similarities and differences: [RESPECT] and [SOCIAL NORM] are the most common features that the word is used for in both Korea and Japan. The primary reason to call a professional writer, for example, is to show [RESPECT] in both the societies. Except for the case of professional writers, the main reason for using this word is for either [RESPECT] or [SOCIAL NORM] in Korea. But [SOCIAL NORM] seems to be the main feature in Japan. (3) At the first meeting, Korean speakers may call the person ‘sunsengnim', whereas Japanese never address the others ‘sensei'. It can be interpreted that ‘sunsengnim' is more generalized in Korea than ‘sensei' in Japan. (4) The characteristic feature [NO NEGATIVITY] for calling people in the other occupations (except for school teachers and medical doctors) in Korea is almost twice as high as in Japan. This also proves that the use of the address form ‘sunsengnim' is highly generalized in Korean society.