This paper aims to explore how the local concepts are expressed in Korean. The findings are as follows. First, there are three dimensions of local concepts, that is, that of locational vs. directional, that of source vs. goal and that of interior vs ...
This paper aims to explore how the local concepts are expressed in Korean. The findings are as follows. First, there are three dimensions of local concepts, that is, that of locational vs. directional, that of source vs. goal and that of interior vs. non-interior. In addition to these, the concept of coherence works in Korean. Coherence involves contact or penetration. Local case marker eyse functions as an interior space marker, while ey without se functions as non-interior space marker. Second, the concept of goal is subdivided in terms of degree of intimacy, that is, the concept of coherence. Local case marker ey is coherent, while lo is incoherent. The concept of coherence is related to the division of point vs. area. Coherent ey presupposes the concept of area, while incoherent lo does not need to. Third, interior space marker eyse functions as ablative marker as well. Incoherent marker lo can be used as a marker of perlative case. Fourth, adverbials of distance and duration can be combined with accusative marker ul when they denote boundedness. When the noun phrases of source/goal are conceptualized into an area, they are realized with local case markers eyse, ey. However, they are realized with accusative case marker ul when they are conceptualized into a point. Fifth, when the noun phrase of local concepts is considered to be that of an affected referent in the situation type of accomplishment, they are combined with accusative marker ul. In this case, ul-marked noun phrase shows a holistic interpretation. Sixth, the above phenomena point to the fact that Korean local case systems are organized in terms of aspect category.