By examining the linguistic characteristics of Cheongguyeongeon compiled by Gim Cheontaek, this study sheds light on the linguistic value of Cheongguyeongeon as a language of the early 18th century biography and explores approaches to utilize it. The ...
By examining the linguistic characteristics of Cheongguyeongeon compiled by Gim Cheontaek, this study sheds light on the linguistic value of Cheongguyeongeon as a language of the early 18th century biography and explores approaches to utilize it. The language text in Cheongguyeongeon compiled by Gim Cheontaek was analyzed in terms of phonology, grammatical forms, and vocabulary, focusing on colloquiality and emotional functions. In the phonological phenomenon, we revealed the temporality and hierarchy of Cheongguyeongeon, as a colloquial song compiled by Gim Cheontaek, and analyzed its common colloquiality and regionality by comparing it with a songbook after Cheongguyeongeo. Furthermore, the works in Cheongguyeongeon, compiled by Gim Cheontaek, reflect the language of the region at different times and locations.
In grammatical form, the morphological characteristics of colloquiality and emotional function were identified. Moreover, in vocabulary, the everyday language characteristics of Sijo as a literary genre and the characteristics of each branch of vocabulary in Pyeongsijo and Saseo Sijo were analyzed by dividing them into natural vocabulary and human vocabulary. In Cheongguyeongeo, grammatical forms are colloquial, with auxiliary postpositional particles or endings, and abbreviations are used to rhyme with the song. In Cheongguyeongeo, exclamatory endings frequently appear in songs to express the speaker’s emotions. In particular, examples that were interpreted in the existing Korean language history literature as close to the plain ending were identified as examples of Cheongguyeongeo being used as an exclamatory ending.
The vocabulary is identified as vernacular, which appears to be the everyday language of the first half of the 18th century. In Cheongguyeongeo, examples of adjectives, verbs, proper names, onomatopoeia, and mimetic words that are not frequently found in other literature were identified. In the Pyeongshijo period of Cheongguyeongeo, the reality perception and worldview of the gentry, the class that created works, were expressed in the natural environment, which was largely characterized by Chinese characters. This is because Sijo expressed the inner emotions of the noblemen as is; the Chinese character vocabulary that was frequently used in everyday life was presumed to be not translated into Korean but was instead used as it was.
In editorial poetry, which deals with the poetic speaker’s love, desire, and conflict, bodily or character vocabulary is often used. The use of onomatopoeia or mimetic words in the details of sexual behavior adds to the liveliness and serves to control the level of expression. Furthermore, there are examples where the use of kanji appears to be used to control the level of expression. The family in the private Sijo is not a human figure idealized by Confucian ethics; instead, it shows a conflict between in-laws or one’s wife and concubine, which is expressed as a grievance. Vulgar language also appears, which is used as a device to caricature the characters rather than to show conflict or discontent by degrading them.
Cheongguyeongeo is the first songbook in existence that completely records the words of Gagok, a traditional vocal song of the Joseon Dynasty, which used to be unrecorded, and reveals its value as a national language and cultural history data of the first half of the 18th century. Moreover, it suggests methods to utilize it as an educational material. It is significant in that it complements the research on national language history, which has been conducted so far, and contributes to conducting integrated research on Korean language history, literature, and cultural history. Further research is required to comprehensively examine the language of the collection of songs, focusing on sources with clear transcription dates, and identify their linguistic characteristics. Thus, it is hoped that interest in and research on song lyrics will become more active from an integrated perspective.