남북 어문규범 통합의 사회적 조건에 대하여

Abstract

Given the fact that dominant discourse on the integration of South and North Korean language norms has been biased toward a linguistic logic, we explore how to form a discourse that considers socio-political conditions around norm integration by conducting a discourse analysis of three papers: Im(2011), Hong(2007), and Kim(2019). First, we regarded the integration of the two Korean language norms as a writing system reform and reviewed historical cases of successful writing system reforms to induce the mechanism of a writing system reform. This confirmed that the writing system functioned as a social symbol of a group and that most effective reforms of the writing system were accompanied by abrupt political changes that required new symbols to support their pursuing values. Therefore, we argue that the discourse on the integration of the two Korean writing systems should be formed closely in relation to the socio-political conditions, especially a sort of unification type. Second, we conducted a discourse analysis of three papers that examined the integration of the two Korean writing systems conditioned by a specific type of unification. In the case of the model of South-led absorption unification, it was argued that the two writing systems would be unified according to South Korean norms for administrative convenience. From another perspective of the model pursuing the integration of the Korean ethnic communities, mutual negotiation between South and North Korea was requested to establish a single writing system for all Koreans including overseas Koreans. When presupposing the model focusing the peace and co-existence of South and North Korea instead of a political unification, it was possible to emphasize the rights of individual language users and to allow multiple writing systems for multi-layered language societies rather than a national or ethnic unit.