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volume 4, issue 7, 2025
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GRAMMATICAL MEANS OF POLITENESS: A COMPARISON OF KOREAN AND
UZBEK LANGUAGES
Eshpulatova Sabrina Farkhodovna
Uzbekistan State World Languages University
Faculty of Oriental Philology
Student of Philology and Language Teaching: Korean Language Major
882976555
Abstract:
This article investigates the grammatical strategies employed to express politeness in
Korean and Uzbek, two languages belonging to distinct typological families. It examines how
grammatical features, such as honorifics, verb endings, pronouns, and sentence structures, are
utilized to convey deference, respect, and social distance. The analysis compares and contrasts
the specific grammatical devices used in each language to encode politeness, exploring the
influence of cultural norms and social hierarchies on linguistic expression. Furthermore, the
paper investigates the interplay between grammar and pragmatics in the realization of politeness,
considering how contextual factors and speaker intentions interact with grammatical forms to
create nuanced expressions of social meaning. By highlighting the similarities and differences in
the grammatical encoding of politeness in Korean and Uzbek, this study aims to contribute to a
deeper understanding of cross-linguistic variation and universals in the expression of social
relationships through language.
Keywords:
Politeness, Korean, Uzbek, Grammar, Honorifics, Verb Endings, Pronouns, Syntax,
Pragmatics, Social Distance, Deference, Respect, Comparative Linguistics, Cross-cultural
Communication, Linguistic Politeness
INTRODUCTION
Politeness, the linguistic expression of social relationships and the management of face, is a
fundamental aspect of human interaction. Languages often encode politeness through various
grammatical mechanisms, reflecting the cultural values and social hierarchies of their speakers.
This paper investigates the grammatical means of politeness in Korean and Uzbek, two
languages representing distinct typological families, to compare and contrast how they encode
deference, respect, and social distance through their grammatical structures.
1. Honorific Systems: A Key Politeness Strategy:
One of the most prominent grammatical features associated with politeness is the honorific
system. While both Korean and Uzbek employ honorifics, their implementation differs
significantly.
• Korean: Korean possesses a highly elaborate honorific system that pervades the entire
grammar. Honorifics are primarily expressed through:
• Honorific Verb Endings: Special verb endings, such as "-
시
- (-si-)", are added to verb stems
to indicate respect towards the subject of the sentence. The choice of verb ending depends on the
relative social status of the speaker, the addressee, and the referent.
• Honorific Nouns: Certain nouns have honorific counterparts, such as "
집
(jip)" (house)
becoming "
댁
(daek)" (honorable house) when referring to the addressee's home.
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• Honorific Particles: Particles like "
께서
(kkeseo)" are used instead of regular subject markers
to show respect towards the subject.
• Elevated Vocabulary: Some verbs and nouns have entirely separate, more formal counterparts
that are used to express politeness. For example, "
먹다
(meokda)" (to eat) becomes "
드시다
(deusida)" (to eat, honorific).
• These elements interact to create a complex system where the speaker must carefully choose
grammatical forms to appropriately signal their social standing relative to others.
• Uzbek: While Uzbek also expresses politeness through grammatical means, its honorific
system is less elaborate and pervasive than Korean's. Uzbek primarily employs:
• Second Person Plural Pronoun (Siz): The use of the second person plural pronoun "siz" to
address a single person is a primary means of showing respect. This strategy mirrors the polite
"you" in English, originally the second-person plural.
• Honorific Vocabulary: Similar to Korean, Uzbek has some vocabulary items considered more
polite or respectful than their common counterparts.
• Third Person Constructions: Using third-person constructions with appropriate titles (e.g.,
"O'qituvchi keldi" - "The teacher has arrived," instead of directly addressing the teacher) can also
convey politeness. However, overuse can sound stiff or overly formal.
• Unlike Korean, Uzbek lacks dedicated honorific verb endings that inflect based on the status
of the subject. Instead, politeness is often signaled through a combination of vocabulary choice,
pronoun usage, and indirect speech acts.
2. Pronoun Usage and Address Terms:
The choice of pronouns and address terms is another crucial grammatical means of expressing
politeness.
• Korean: Korean has a complex system of pronouns that reflect social hierarchy. The choice of
pronoun depends on the speaker's relationship with the addressee, their relative age, and their
social status. Using the wrong pronoun can be highly impolite. Often, Koreans avoid using
second-person pronouns altogether, opting for indirect address terms like "
선 생 님
(seonsaengnim)" (teacher) or "
언니
(eonni)" (older sister, used by females).
• Uzbek: While Uzbek does use "siz" for singular polite address, it also commonly employs first
names followed by "aka" (older brother) for men or "opa" (older sister) for women, to indicate
respect and familiarity. Using the bare first name without a title can be considered impolite,
especially when addressing elders or superiors. As in Korean, avoiding direct address with
pronouns altogether, using titles instead, can also increase politeness.
3. Sentence Structures and Indirectness:
Beyond specific morphemes and vocabulary, sentence structures and the use of indirectness also
contribute to politeness.
• Korean: Korean often utilizes indirect speech acts to soften requests or commands. Instead of
directly asking for something, Koreans might hint at their needs or ask about the addressee's
ability to fulfill their request. For instance, instead of saying "
문을 닫아 주세요
(mun-eul dada
juseyo)" (Close the door), one might say "
문이 좀 춥네요
(mun-i jom chupneyo)" (It's a bit cold
with the door open). Also, using declarative statements ending with questions (ex: "
춥지 않아요
?
- chupji anayo?" - Isn't it cold?) is more polite than direct commands. The use of sentence-ending
particles can also significantly affect the level of politeness.
• Uzbek: Similar to Korean, Uzbek utilizes indirect speech acts to avoid direct confrontation or
commands. Instead of directly refusing a request, Uzbek speakers might offer excuses or express
uncertainty. Using conditional clauses ("agar vaqtingiz bo'lsa..." - "if you have time...") before
making a request can also soften the imposition. Also the use of "iltimos" (please) can be used to
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politely ask a question.
4. The Interplay of Grammar and Pragmatics:
It's crucial to understand that grammatical means of politeness do not operate in isolation. Their
effectiveness depends on the context, the speaker's intentions, and the addressee's interpretation.
Both Korean and Uzbek speakers rely heavily on pragmatic inference to determine the intended
level of politeness. A grammatically polite utterance can still be perceived as insincere or
sarcastic if delivered with the wrong tone or in an inappropriate context. Likewise, a seemingly
less polite utterance can be interpreted as friendly and informal if delivered with warmth and
sincerity. A comparative analysis of the grammatical means of politeness in Korean and Uzbek
reveals both similarities and significant differences. While both languages utilize honorifics,
pronouns, and sentence structures to express deference and respect, the specific grammatical
devices and their level of pervasiveness differ considerably. Korean possesses a highly elaborate
honorific system deeply integrated into its grammar, while Uzbek relies more on a combination
of polite vocabulary, pronoun usage, and indirect speech acts. Understanding these grammatical
nuances is crucial for effective cross-cultural communication and avoiding unintended offense.
Further research exploring the sociolinguistic factors that influence politeness strategies in
Korean and Uzbek would provide valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between
language, culture, and social interaction. Studying the acquisition of politeness markers by
language learners is also a promising avenue for future investigation. Ultimately, this
comparative analysis highlights the diverse ways in which languages encode social relationships
and the importance of considering both grammatical form and pragmatic context in the study of
politeness.
CONCLUSION
Korean and Uzbek employ distinct grammatical strategies to encode politeness, reflecting their
unique typological characteristics and cultural contexts. Korean's elaborate honorific system,
deeply embedded in verb morphology and vocabulary, contrasts with Uzbek's reliance on polite
pronouns, indirect speech, and contextual cues. While both languages utilize grammatical
resources to express deference, respect, and social distance, the specific mechanisms and their
pervasiveness differ significantly. This comparison underscores the intricate relationship
between grammar and pragmatics in realizing politeness. Effective cross-cultural communication
requires sensitivity to these nuances, avoiding misinterpretations stemming from grammatical
differences. Further research should investigate the dynamic interplay between grammatical
markers and social context in shaping perceptions of politeness in both Korean and Uzbek
societies.
REFERENCES:
1.
Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: Some universals in language usage.
Cambridge University Press. pp. 56-90.
2.
Culpeper, J. (2011). Impoliteness: Using language to cause offence. Cambridge
University Press. pp. 112-145.
3.
Kwon, S.-O. (2003). Korean honorifics and politeness. Summer Institute of Linguistics.
pp. 45-67.
4.
O'Neill, S. (2016). Uzbek language: A cultural profile. Defense Language Institute. pp.
23-35.
5.
Watts, R. J. (2003). Politeness. Cambridge University Press. pp. 78-100.
