Contact and Interference: Hybridity in Korean Language, in comparison with English and French
Jongsok Koh
Wednesday, April 02, 20143:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Royce Hall 314
UCLA
Languages change over time. When we say Korean, English or French languages, we are actually referring to Korean languages, English languages, and French languages. Ancient English and medieval English are different languages from contemporary English. Therefore, medieval English literature and contemporary English literature are, in fact, written in two different languages. There are multiple English literatures instead of a single English literature. It is the same with French literature(s) and Korean literature(s). All natural languages become infected through the contact and interference. Korean language is infected (especially the Sino-Korean words), English language is also infected (in particular Franco-Latin words.) Not only the languages but also cultures, accumulated through languages, are also infected cultures. This, in turn, means that we, as human beings, are all infected. Purity does not exist. We are blessed with impurity.
JennyYoo
yoo@international.ucla.edu
Sponsor(s): Center for Korean Studies