종결어미 '-니'의 기능과 의미

Abstract

This study shows that Korean modality is expressed not only by the final ending, but also by the proposition and the intonation. We can see that the classification of the final endings according to the modality of sentence should be reconsidered. In this view point, the ending '-ni' used in the declarative sentence, the interrogative sentence, or the exclamatory sentence is not a homonym form but a final ending. It is used differently according to the difference of the proposition and the intonation. The final ending '-ni' is resulted from the change of prefinal ending. The reason that its usage is limited to the declarative sentence, the interrogative sentence, and the exclamatory sentence is that it retains its characteristics as a prefinal ending. The final ending '-ni' in the declarative sentence has the restriction to be used only in the sentence in which the declarative word is an adjective but the prefinal ending '-eott- or -gett-'is not expressed. Therefore '-nuni' has the restriction to be used only in the sentence in which the prefinal ending '-eott- or -gett-'is expressed on the condition that the verb or the adjective is used as the declarative word in the sentence. The '-ni' is always used in the utterance presupposing the hearer and represents a treatment of very low level. When '-ni'is used in the declarative sentence or the exclamatory sentence, it represents a low level like a basic level element '-da/nenda.' In the interrogative sentence, it represents a low level like a basic level element '-nenya.' Although there is a final ending of the same low level as '-ni' especially in the exclamatory sentence or in the promise sentence, it is the fuzzy edge phenomenon that '-ni' is used as a final ending. The meaning of '-ni' is to express the displeasure or the complaint about the hearer.