| Abstract |
This paper discusses the occurrence theory and the functional theory of n-insertion in modern Korean, and the reason why the morphophonological phenomenon, n-insertion, occurs is considered from both ...the diachronic theory and the synchronic theory. Current studies approach the issue of n-insertion from three major viewpoints, namely, phonologic, morphologic, or diachronic viewpoints. Nevertheless, each viewpoint has disadvantages. Clarification of the issue of n-insertion is not possible with just a single viewpoint. Hence, the author considers this issue from two aspects. (1) The diachronic genetic theory: "What caused n-insertion to occur?" and (2) the synchronic functional theory: "Why does n-insertion continue to occur today?" First, regarding the n-insertion genetic theory, as based on the theory of .고광모- Kwang Mo Ko (1991, 1992), the origin of n-insertion is traced to the omission of /n/ immediately before /i/ and /y/ in the first part of a word, as observed in the latter half of 18th Century. Later, /n/ was inserted after a consonant of compound words by analogy, even in words which did not originally contain an /n/, resulting in development of relexicalization. Due to relexicalization, /n/ has disappeared in its underlying form, and words containing /n/ have been derived as a result of the "insertion rule". In this way, n-insertion has developed as a phonological rule. This process is supported by phonetic probability. According to the genetic theory viewpoint, n-insertion occurs only when the following element is an independent morpheme, and that n-insertion hardly occurs in Sino-Korean words in cases where the initial sound of the following element starts with Ii/. For the functional theory of n-insertion, n-insertion was compared with initialization of finals, and was shown to function as a sign of the morphology borderline. Furthermore, the problem of the functional surplus of n-insertion is discussed.show more
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