Multiple Stem-final Variants in Korean Native Nouns and Loanwords
Jongho Jun, Jee Hyun Lee · 2007
The stem-final variation patterns of Korean nouns have recently turned out to be very complicated. Most importantly, several obstruents are involved as free variants. To verify the variation patterns and check the validity of certain previous analyses relying on multiple stochastic rules and constraints, the present study provides an experimental investigation of Korean native nouns and loanword adaptations. The results mostly confirm the occurrence of multiple variants and many predictions which can be made in the previous approaches employing multiple rules and constraints. It is also found that English loanwords in Korean show stem-final variation which is not significantly different from the variation observed among native Korean nouns. Consequently, it is indicated that native Korean speakers are well aware of complicated variation patterns, and use the knowledge of the patterns when they deal with the novel forms. Outline