Die Konsequenzen der Sprachstruktur für die Verfestigung sozialer Ungleichheit in der koreanischen Gesellschaft: Unter besonderer Berücksichtigung neokonfuzianischer Einflüsse

The study focuses upon the culturally rooted phenomenon of social inequality as prevalent in Korea. Such inequality is to be seen in the context of social change and change of communication patterns in times of modernization of the society. The Korean grammar avails of various speech levels which allow for exact vertical rank differentiation of an individual even within greater groups. The system of differentiated honorific behavior as given in the Korean language is characterized, above all, by a socially regulated impaired usage of verbs, adjectives, nouns, and other parts of speech. The findings of the study are as follows: 1. The Korean grammar as it is today was shaped under significant influence of neo-Confucianism during the Joseon-Dynasty (1392-1910); 2. The vertical rank differentiation in Korean constitutes ranks of higher and lower order in society. The rank oriented Korean language structure, therefore, retards progression of modern democracy. 3. In Korea, the development from a pre-modern into a modern society evolved at great speed. There is no correlation to the Age of Enlightenment as it took place in European history. 4. Language and its hierarchic attributes are being considered by most Koreans as sacrosanct manifestations of national identity.