This paper is concerned with how to analyze syntactic constructs and with how to categorize the syntactic unit which is established as the result of analyzing syntactic constructs. In this paper I examine the nature of different syntactic units first ...
This paper is concerned with how to analyze syntactic constructs and with how to categorize the syntactic unit which is established as the result of analyzing syntactic constructs. In this paper I examine the nature of different syntactic units first and then argue that there are two useful syntactic units in Korean. One is syntactic function unit and the other syntagmatic unit. Syntactic function unit is defined as the minimal unit possessing a syntactic function, and syntagmatic unit is defined as the minimal unit possessing a combining ability. Therefore there are two levels of syntax in Korean. One is syntax based on syntactic function units and the other syntax based on syntagmatic units.
Secondly, this paper considers the category of 'ko' which introduces the quoted clause in Korean. I suggest that 'ko' is not a final ending but a case marker. This consideration in led to how to categorize the syntactic unit in the system of Korean syntax. In this respect I examine the nature of complementizer in Korean. Therefore I find that it is necessary that not only the syntactic position of syntactic unit but also the syntactic features of syntactic unit should be investigated carefully in order that the syntactic study on the basis of syntactic unit might be deepened and widened.