존재사 ‘있-’ 구문의 의미와 통사: 여격-주격 ‘있-’ 구문을 중심으로

Abstract

This study investigates the syntax and semantics of the Korean existential construction with the verb iss- ‘to exist’, focusing on the honorific marker -si and the word order between the arguments of the applicable constructions. The existential construction allows various types of arguments; this study centers on the -eykey -i/ka iss- type of construction and its honorific variant -kkey -i/ka iss-usi-. In particular, this study identifies two types of existential iss- in Korean: locative iss-, which takes [Location] and [Theme] as its arguments, and possessive iss-, which takes [Possessor] and [Possessum] as its arguments. It argues that this semantic distinction arises from two distinct underlying structures. Furthermore, the study shows that interpretations of the existential constructions differ depending on the word order of the arguments, and it attempts to account for this variation structurally.