This paper explores the usage and function of negative sentences in Korean spoken language. Korean negatives are expressed with long forms(‘-ji an-’ negatives) or short forms(‘an’ negatives). Traditionally many studies of negation have been focused on whether the meaning is the same in their surface forms as well as deep structure. However, negative sentences have various functions in a discourse: negation of a hearer’s presupposition, proposition of speakers’ attitudes and politeness of hearers. Therefore this study analyzes the language data and investigates the functions of negation in oral communication. If we analyze the usages of negative sentences in a spoken corpus, we can explain the functions of negation. The corpus used in the study consists of many spoken texts from <21st century Sejong Project> corpus. It comprises around 340,000 words in transcription texts of conversations. As a result of analysis, the short form negative sentences are used more than long forms in conversation. Using negative sentences, the speaker negates corresponding affirmative meaning, and corrects what hearers believe to be true in a discourse. These functions of negation are generally found in short forms in Korean spoken corpus. In contrast, the speakers use long forms to express their politeness. The use of these negative sentences is speaker’s strategy for avoiding conclusive remarks. The interrogative negative sentences are used for demanding the hearer’s identification of negative presupposition or negative facts. Generally Korean speakers use short form negative sentences for demanding the hearer’s identification. But, interrogative negative sentences express indirectly the illocutionary force of statements. Mostly these functions of negation are found in long form negative sentences in Korean spoken corpus. That is, Korean speakers use long form interrogative negative sentences for demanding the hearer’s confirmation or expressing their thought indirectly or carefully. Because these sentences expose the affirmative speaker``s presupposition clearly, negative functions are weakened. And Korean speakers use long form interrogative negative sentences for drawing hearer’s knowledge or emphasizing their information. In conclusion, the short form negative sentences mostly have function of expressing negation but the long form negative sentences have function of expressing speaker’s attitude in Korean spoken language: politeness to hearer, weakened affirmative and emphasis of their information.

This paper explores the usage and function of negative sentences in Korean spoken language. Korean negatives are expressed with long forms(‘-ji an-’ negatives) or short forms(‘an’ negatives). Traditionally many studies of negation have been focused on whether the meaning is the same in their surface forms as well as deep structure. However, negative sentences have various functions in a discourse: negation of a hearer’s presupposition, proposition of speakers’ attitudes and politeness of hearers. Therefore this study analyzes the language data and investigates the functions of negation in oral communication. If we analyze the usages of negative sentences in a spoken corpus, we can explain the functions of negation. The corpus used in the study consists of many spoken texts from <21st century Sejong Project> corpus. It comprises around 340,000 words in transcription texts of conversations. As a result of analysis, the short form negative sentences are used more than long forms in conversation. Using negative sentences, the speaker negates corresponding affirmative meaning, and corrects what hearers believe to be true in a discourse. These functions of negation are generally found in short forms in Korean spoken corpus. In contrast, the speakers use long forms to express their politeness. The use of these negative sentences is speaker’s strategy for avoiding conclusive remarks. The interrogative negative sentences are used for demanding the hearer’s identification of negative presupposition or negative facts. Generally Korean speakers use short form negative sentences for demanding the hearer’s identification. But, interrogative negative sentences express indirectly the illocutionary force of statements. Mostly these functions of negation are found in long form negative sentences in Korean spoken corpus. That is, Korean speakers use long form interrogative negative sentences for demanding the hearer’s confirmation or expressing their thought indirectly or carefully. Because these sentences expose the affirmative speaker``s presupposition clearly, negative functions are weakened. And Korean speakers use long form interrogative negative sentences for drawing hearer’s knowledge or emphasizing their information. In conclusion, the short form negative sentences mostly have function of expressing negation but the long form negative sentences have function of expressing speaker’s attitude in Korean spoken language: politeness to hearer, weakened affirmative and emphasis of their information.