A study on fish names in North and South Korea: Focusing on the onomasiological word-formation theory

JiaWang Chen

Kyung Hee University

Abstract

The study thus provides an empirical and theoretical foundation for future standardization of inter-Korean biological nomenclature and cognitively oriented lexical integration. This study investigates the naming patterns of fish nomenclature in South and North Korea through the lens of onomasiological word-formation theory. An analysis of 395 fish species sharing identical Latin names was conducted to examine the bidirectional process of conceptualization and lexicalization, focusing on the combinatory principles between the onomasiological base (X) and mark (Y). Consequently, 68% (n = 270) of the data exhibited conceptual convergence, indicating shared cognitive categorization across the two speech communities. However, systematic variation emerged in lexicalization: 27% (n = 74) of the cases displayed complete correspondence, 26% (n = 69) partial discrepancy, and 47% (n = 127) full divergence. The most frequent structural pattern was —the perceptual attributes of fish constitute primary conceptual foci in both linguistic systems. Overall, these results indicate that although the South and North Korean lexicons have originated from a common cognitive foundation, they have developed distinct expressive norms and naming strategies. Thus, this study provides an empirical and theoretical basis for future standardization of inter-Korean biological nomenclature and cognitively oriented lexical integration.

남북한 어류명에 대한 고찰
: 표현론적 단어 형성 중심으로

초록

Vol. 40 No. 4 (2022.12)

Journal Abbreviation j. Korea Saf. Manag. Sci.
Frequency Published four times annually in March, June, September, and December
Doi Prefix 10.14353/sjk.
Year of Launching 1993
Publisher The Sociolinguistic Society of Korea

Indexed/Tracked/Covered By