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TYPE
Original Research
PAGE NO.
31-36
DOI
OPEN ACCESS
SUBMITED
13 June 2025
ACCEPTED
09 July 2025
PUBLISHED
11 August 2025
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue 08 2025
COPYRIGHT
© 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms
of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License.
The Problem of Lexical
Ambivalence in Official
Business Style in Korean
Natalya KIM
Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, Uzbekistan
Gulshoda YUNUSOVA
Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, Uzbekistan
Mokhira JUMAEVA
Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, Uzbekistan
Abstract
: Solving the problem of lexical ambivalence
requires a comprehensive approach, including
vocabulary
selection,
context
consideration,
involvement of professional translators and the use of
modern technologies. Vocabulary (
어휘
) is the
vocabulary of a language that reflects changes in society
and is enriched with new terms. Korean vocabulary
includes words of native language (
고유어
),
hieroglyphic origin (
한자어
) and foreign origin (
외래어
),
as well as idioms (
관용어
), proverbs (
속담
) and
compound words (
연어
). Vocabulary also reflects social-
class, professional and age differences. The internal
structure of semantics is divided into objective
(denotative) and conceptual (significative) spheres.
Lexical originality in the Korean language is formed
under the influence of the functional tasks of the
language in social society.
Keywords:
Korean language, vocabulary, lexical
ambivalence, context, objective, denotative, style,
official-business,
communication,
linguistic
task,
content, internal structure
Introduction:
Globalization of the world shows that
online presence is a key factor for success for any state,
the quality of linguistic design of official web resources
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European International Journal of Philological Sciences
is of particular importance. Korean state websites,
striving to provide information to a wide audience, are
faced with the problem of lexical ambivalence (
어휘적
모호성
), which can significantly affect the perception
of the content. The essence of the problem lies in the
ambiguity of the meanings of some lexical units used
in the texts. This can be due to both the historical
features of the development of the Korean language
and borrowings from other languages, in particular,
from Chinese (
한문
). Words that have several
meanings, depending on the context, can be
misinterpreted by foreign users or even native
speakers who do not have sufficient knowledge in this
area. Lexical ambivalence (
어휘적
모호성
) can
appear in various forms, for example, homonyms (
동음이의어
) - words that have the same spelling and
sound but different meanings - can create confusion if
the context is not taken into account, or synonyms (
동의어
), which have similar but not identical
meanings, can be used inaccurately, which leads to a
distortion of meaning. This kind of inaccuracy
especially depends on the knowledge of Korean as a
native language or a foreign language. The problem, of
course, is also revealed in the fact that Korean can act
as a second foreign language (Second Foreign
Language) for many students. Here, special attention
should be paid. For students learning Korean,
especially as a second foreign language, lexical
ambivalence is a serious challenge. The need to
distinguish subtle nuances of meaning, take into
account the context of use, and understand the
cultural connotations of words requires considerable
effort and constant practice. Misinterpretations of
lexically
ambivalent
units
can
lead
to
misunderstandings, comic situations, and even
distortion of communication. One way to overcome
the difficulties associated with lexical ambivalence is to
actively use dictionaries and text corpora. Careful
study of examples of the use of words in various
contexts helps to better understand their meanings
and nuances. In addition, it is useful to turn to native
speakers for clarification and advice. An important
aspect is also the development of linguistic intuition.
The more a student immerses himself in the language,
the easier it becomes for him to recognize lexical
ambivalence and choose the most appropriate
meaning of a word in a particular situation. Reading
Korean literature, watching Korean films and TV series,
and communicating with native speakers all contribute
to the development of linguistic intuition. Teachers of
the Korean language should pay special attention to
the problem of lexical ambivalence. Including exercises
in the curriculum on recognizing and interpreting
lexically ambivalent units, analyzing real examples from
Korean speech and literature, and using interactive
teaching methods can all help students successfully
cope with this complex but important area of Korean
vocabulary.
The problem of lexical ambivalence as an important
linguistic task for researchers
As noted above, lexical ambiguity can create even
greater difficulties for learners of Korean, especially for
those learning Korean as a second language. Words that
native speakers naturally understand in context can
easily cause misunderstandings for foreign language
learners because they have difficulty distinguishing
between them. For example, the Korean word “
눈
” can
mean either a div part or snow falling from the sky.
The presence of such polysemy can lead learners to
misinterpret the meaning if they do not understand the
context. Moreover, since Korean is a context-sensitive
language, the meaning of a word is often determined by
the logic of the entire sentence. Therefore, learners
need to develop the ability to understand not only the
meaning of individual words, but also their role and
changes in meaning within a sentence. This requires
more than just expanding one’s vocabulary; an
understanding of Korean culture is also important.
In addition, the honorific system in Korean can be a
factor that further exacerbates lexical ambiguity. Even
for words with the same meaning, different words must
be chosen depending on the purpose or situation in
which they are used.
For example, even the basic verb “
먹다
” sometimes needs to be expressed as “
드
시다
”
or “
잡수시다
” to show respect. This honorific system
makes vocabulary selection difficult for learners and can
lead to misunderstandings due to incorrect vocabulary
usage. Therefore, when teaching Korean, a variety of
teaching methods should be used to resolve lexical
ambiguity. It is important not to simply memorize the
meaning of a word, but to show how it is used in
different contexts. Lexical ambivalence is an integral
part of the Korean language, and understanding it is
crucial for successful communication. Constant study,
practice, and attention to context are the keys to
overcoming the difficulties associated with this
phenomenon.
Solving the problem of lexical ambivalence requires a
comprehensive approach. It is necessary to carefully
select vocabulary, take into account the context of word
usage, and provide explanations for terms that have
ambiguous meanings. It is important to involve
professional translators and editors with deep
knowledge of the Korean language and culture. In
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addition, it is necessary to actively use modern
technologies, such as automated text quality control
systems that can identify cases of potential ambiguity.
The issue of lexical and semantic features of the
Korean language is increasingly being addressed by
both Korean and foreign researchers. This study
examined the works of Kim Yeon Chun (
김영준
) ,
Hong Choo Hyun (
홍주현
) , Miho Choo ( Miho Choo
) , Mi Jung Park ( Mi Young Park ) , Lucein Brown Brown
) , T.V. Annushkina , Qin Panpan and others.
Kim Yong Chun (
김영준
) and Kim Kyung- il (
김경일
)
examined official speech from the standpoint of
psycholinguistics, conducting a content analysis of
speeches by top officials of the Republic of Korea. Their
approach made it possible to identify the connection
between the lexical features of official discourse and
the psychological mood of the author of the speech.
The work of Hong Ju- hyun (
홍주현
) and Yoon Hae-
jin (
윤해
진
) focuses on the structural analysis of
election speeches of candidates, in which the key
aspect was the determination of the semantic
relationship of lexemes through network analysis.
A significant contribution to the study of politeness
and formality in Korean speech was made by the work
of Lucein Braun ( Brown ) . The work emphasizes that
in any speech, special attention is required by
grammatical features in lexical units, namely, the
presence of separate vocabulary for expressing polite
forms. Research by T.V. Annushkina and Tsin Panpan
are devoted to the genre of congratulatory speech as a
special type of official communication. In particular, in
the works of T.V. Annushkina and Tsin Panpan
examined the lexical composition in the material of
official speeches and found that the selection of lexical
combinations is an important communicative tool that
has not only a social function, but also an educational
one.
We noted above that one should rely on key concepts
of vocabulary and semantics, with a special emphasis
on the structural organization of speech, the functions
of lexical units and the cultural specificity of Korean
vocabulary. For example, the study of borrowings
conducted by Yoonjung Oh ( Oh ) and Hyunjung Son (
Hyunjung Son ) shows the tendency of active
introduction of Anglicisms into official speech,
especially in the contexts of international politics and
business, which reflects the processes of globalization
and cultural exchange.
The study of the features of vocabulary and meaning in
any language, including the Korean language, involves
the definition of lexical-semantic features. The studies
of Kim Yong are noteworthy Chun (
김영준
) and Kim
Kyung Il (
김경일
) .
When analyzing official speech, considerable attention
is paid to the lexical composition of the language.
According to the definition given by V.N. Yartseva ,
vocabulary (
어휘
) is the totality of all words in a
language that reflect its vocabulary. The term
"vocabulary" is used both in relation to individual layers
of vocabulary (for example, everyday, business, poetic
vocabulary), and in a broader sense - to denote all words
used by a specific author or within the framework of one
work, which is also typical for the Korean language.
Vocabulary is the object of study in such sections of
linguistics as lexicology, semasiology and onomasiology
. It directly or indirectly reflects changes in reality,
reacting to processes occurring in the material and
cultural life of society, and is constantly enriched by new
units denoting new phenomena, processes and
concepts. The expansion and development of various
spheres of material production, science and technology
contribute to the emergence of special terms and the
formation of new terminological layers. Over time, such
terms often become part of common vocabulary, which
is associated with an increase in the level of general
education and scientific competence of the average
native speaker.
According to F.M. Musaev ( Farkhod M. Musayev ) , the
vocabulary of the Korean language contains words
borrowed from Chinese, Sanskrit, Mongolian, and
sometimes European languages. According to its origin,
Korean vocabulary is divided into 2 types. The first type
includes words of the native language (
고유어
) , words
of hieroglyphic origin (
한자어
) and words of foreign
origin (
외래어
). The second type includes idioms (
관용어
), proverbs (
속담
) and compound words (
연어
).
According to research by Yoonjung Oh ( Oh ) and
Hyunjung Son ( Hyunjung Son ) , modern Korean has
many lexical borrowings from other languages,
especially English. The use of borrowings in formal
speech may indicate the speaker's desire to appear
modern and international. For example:
미팅
( meeting
)
–
meeting,
컨퍼런스
( conference )
–
conference,
프로젝트
( project )
–
project,
시스템
( system )
–
system,
매니지먼트
( management )
–
management,
리더십
( leadership )
–
leadership,
파트너십
(
partnership )
–
partnership. In addition, in modern
Korean, many borrowings from English are a result of
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Korea's increasing international contacts and
interactions with other countries. These borrowings
are often used in the fields of diplomacy, international
trade, politics, and cultural exchange, which helps
establish closer relations with other countries and
facilitates the exchange of information and ideas on
the world stage.
The composition of any communicative situation
reflects differences due to social-class, professional
and age factors within the language community
through vocabulary. According to this criterion, the
lexical composition is divided into groups associated
with belonging to various social dialects, such as
jargon, argot, slang and others. The study of social
differentiation of vocabulary is carried out by such
areas as social dialectology, sociolinguistics and
psycholinguistics. In addition, territorial features are
recorded in vocabulary: it reflects the belonging of
speakers to various regional dialects and preserves the
characteristic local features of speech communication.
When considering the concept of vocabulary, it is also
necessary to pay attention to the category of
semantics. V.N. Yartseva noted that semantics covers
several aspects. Firstly, semantics refers to all content
and information that is transmitted through language
or its elements
–
words, grammatical forms, phrases
and sentences. Secondly, semantics is a branch of
linguistics that studies the semantic aspect of language
units. Thirdly, semantics is one of the main sections of
semiotics.
In the first of these meanings, semantics is considered
as a system characterized by indeterminacy. Full-
fledged words such as nouns, verbs, adverbs, and
adjectives are the observable elements of this system.
These elements are structured on the basis of the
“semantic triangle” model: a sequence of sounds or
graphic signs (the signifier) is related in the
consciousness of native speakers and in the language
system, on the one hand, to objects of the real world
(things, processes, features)
–
denotates or referents,
and on the other hand
–
to the conceptual content of
these objects, which is designated by the terms
“meaning,” “ significance ,” “intension,” or “signified.”
Another significant unit of the semantic system is a
sentence (utterance), in the structure of which a
denotate (referent) is also distinguished - a designation
of a fact of reality - and a significator (meaning),
reflecting a judgment about this fact. In this case, both
the denotate and the significator are related to the
sentence as a whole. At the level of parts of a sentence,
as a rule, the subject (or subject) performs a
denotative, referential function, while the predicate
(or predicate) carries a significative load. Such an
organization is characteristic not only of words and
sentences, but of all linguistic units. The internal
structure of semantics is divided into two main spheres:
objective (denotative, extensional ) and conceptual (
significative , intensional ).
Lexical originality in language, in particular in the Korean
language, is largely formed under the influence of
functional tasks of different styles of speech, depending
on genre and subgenre diversity. It is also necessary to
take into account the characteristically active use of
vocabulary of Chinese origin, which is one of its
distinctive features of the Korean language.
Another problem is that common vocabulary, which
constitutes an important layer in the Korean language,
is supplemented by a number of set phrases with limited
stylistic possibilities and a narrow scope of use, for
example, in the sphere of business and administration
“
갑
”, “
을
”
,
당사자
,
운송장
,
청구
,
신고
,
피고인
,
계약서
,
합의서
,
보증서
,
맹서
or other contexts.
As indicated by M.G. Yugay , the lexical composition of
the Korean language has two key characteristics: the
presence of bookish stylistic coloring and a high level of
standardization of the lexical units used. For example, in
diplomatic speech - in official notes, messages, etc. , a
significant amount of high bookish vocabulary is used:
보복
- retribution,
동지
- a deadly weapon,
공정
-
justice, justice
–
sovereignty, etc. The high level of
standardization of vocabulary in the Korean language,
especially in official contexts, is due to historical factors
and the influence of Chinese writing ( hanja ). Many
terms used in law, politics, and science are of Chinese
origin, which contributes to their unambiguity and
universality. This standardization helps to avoid
ambiguity and imprecision in important documents and
statements.
The bookish stylistic coloring inherent in Korean
vocabulary is not limited to formal situations, but to the
everyday speech of educated classes. The use of high
vocabulary gives the statement a tone of education,
respect, and seriousness. It permeates literary works,
academic texts, and even specialized literature.
Along with bookish vocabulary, the Korean language
also contains a layer of native Korean words that are
more emotionally expressive and are often used in
informal communication. However, in official situations,
preference is given to standardized and stylistically
neutral units.
The relationship between bookish and native Korean
vocabulary determines the stylistic tone of the
statement. Skillful use of both layers of vocabulary
allows achieving the necessary degree of formality and
expressiveness depending on the context and purpose
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of communication.
Thus, the lexical composition of the Korean language,
characterized by bookish stylistic coloring and a high
level of standardization, is an important tool for
effective communication in various spheres of life,
especially in official and formal contexts. Many of the
words with the coloring of the official business style
form antonymous pairs: rights - obligations (
권리
-
의무
), plaintiff - defendant (
원고
-
피고
), punished -
acquitted (
처벌
-
무죄
판결을
받음
), action - inaction
(
행동
-
무활동
), legal - illegal (
합법적인
-
불법적인
).
From the point of view of semantic analysis, the
vocabulary of the official business style is divided into
several categories: words of the literary language used
in business texts in their generally accepted meanings;
terminologized words and phrases, which include the
names of persons according to their professional or job
function; as well as specialized uses of general
language words and expressions. Word-formation
features in the Korean language are directly related to
its general characteristics of the lexical layer, i.e. the
desire for strictness, formality and the absence of
emotional coloring explains the minimal use of
evaluative suffixes, for example, in business texts,
since the main purpose of the documents requires the
use of neutral vocabulary in terms of emotional
expression.
In accordance with the concept of the normative-
prescriptive nature of the Kwon language Yong ,
determines the widespread use of the infinitive, as well
as the characteristic functioning of verb forms and
categories. Chains of interrelated infinitives are often
encountered, as well as the active use of short modal
adjectives. To express imperativeness and regulation in
business texts, constructions such as -
여야
한다
are
used (needed), -
이
필요하다
(necessary) -
로
한다
(obliges), -
이다
, -
되다
(follows).
According to Yu. N. Mazur , the Korean language widely
uses the "panchronic present tense" (present all-time
), in which the verb forms of the present tense acquire
various modal shades: obligation, prescription,
possibility, close to necessity. Examples of such forms
are:
발전시킨다
,
위해
노력한다
,
올
강화한다
,
올
촉진시킨다
,
올
장려한다
,
수
있다
,
하게
한다
,
를
인정한다
,
지
아니한다
and others. However, it should
be noted that the concept of the "panchronic present"
in Korean is a subject of debate among linguists. Some
researchers believe that these forms do not represent
a separate grammatical category, but are the result of
a contextual interpretation of ordinary present tense
forms. In particular, the modal shades attributed to
these forms may arise due to a combination of the
lexical meaning of the verb, the context of the
utterance, and the cultural features of communication.
Indeed, many of the examples given by Yu.N. Mazur ,
such as "
발전시킨다
" (develops), "
위해
노력한다
"(trying for the sake of), "
올
강화한다
" (strengthens),
can be interpreted as a statement of fact in the present
tense, but at the same time imply some regularity,
intention or obligation. For example, the phrase "
올
강화한다
" can mean not only "he/she strengthens it"
but also "he/she should strengthen it" or "he/she is
supposed to strengthen it."
It is important to understand that the Korean language,
like any other, has a rich set of linguistic means for
expressing modality. Along with the use of verb forms,
modal meanings can be conveyed using modal verbs,
adverbs, particles, and other grammatical elements.
Therefore, when analyzing modal shades in the Korean
language, it is necessary to take into account the entire
complex of these means, and not limit ourselves to only
present tense forms.
Thus , the question of the existence of a "panchronic
present" in the Korean language remains open and
requires further research. A more in-depth study of the
functioning of present tense verb forms in various
contexts is necessary, as well as an analysis of their
interaction with other modal means of the language.
This will allow us to determine more accurately whether
this category is a grammatical reality or the result of
contextual interpretation.
CONCLUSION
Thus, from the theoretical material considered, the
following conclusions can be drawn: as a linguistic
phenomenon, lexical ambivalence has become an
important linguistic topic of study, on which successful
communication depends to some extent. The dynamics
of change in lexical semantics to context indicates the
following conclusions:
a ) vocabulary is considered as a set of words of a
language, its vocabulary, the main building block of the
verbal component of the language. It reflects changes in
society, material and cultural life, constantly being
replenished with new words. It is subdivided in
accordance with social dialects, reflecting social-class,
professional and age differences within the language
community ;
b ) semantics is considered as content, information
transmitted by language. It includes all aspects
transmitted by linguistic units and is a key element of
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lexical analysis. It represents content, information
transmitted through language;
c ) it was revealed that one of the important official -
business style of the Korean language is dominated by
vocabulary of Chinese origin and special terminology.
The present tense with modal shades is widely used,
reflecting the features of expressing requirements and
instructions. The style is characterized by a nominal
way of expression, frequent use of nouns, nominative
and verbal postpositions, as well as coordinating
conjunctions, which gives the speech formality and
precision;
d ) it was revealed that the lexical composition of any
style, including the official business style, has a close
connection between semantics and styles, which is
explained by the general function of the message-
information.
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