박경리 『토지』에 재현된 언어와 권력 – 표준어와 방언의 사용 양상을 중심으로

Abstract

The characters in Park, Kyung-ri’s Land are depicted as speaking the dialects of various regions, including Seoul and Pyeongsari. The language used by characters in literary works reveals character traits or performs functions that contain symbolic meanings. In Land, character types can be classified mainly based on the use of standard language and dialect, and identify the characteristics of each. The standard language was established with the formation of the modern nation-state and the capitalist system. After the standard language regulation, the standard language was used as the official language, and the perception of “modernity or premodernity” and “right or wrong” was created between standard language and dialect, which led to the formation of a hierarchy between standard languages and dialects. In addition, the hierarchy of standard language and dialect was reproduced in the use of language in literary works, directly or indirectly revealing the hierarchical relationship of characters. The first distinguishing characteristic through the use of standard language and dialect is related to a person’s status. In most cases, higher status characters use standard language, and lower status characters use dialect. This is a deliberate portrayal of a standard language speaker by the author to give authority to a character with a high status. The distinction between standard language and dialect is also a class distinction in the case of the first and second generation of characters in The Land. And the characters of the second and third generations are distinguished by differences in modern education and social status. In other words, the perception of the “modernity or premodernity” distinction between standard languages and dialects is projected onto the person using the language. On the other hand, characters who transition from dialect speakers to standard language speakers are often symbolic of changing times. In the first half of the novel, he speaks in a dialect due to differences in status, In the second half, examples include character succeeds in business in a capitalist system, or character who rises in social status through modern education.