A Study on the Change of Functions of Duibuqi

대부기(對不起)의 기능 변화에 대한 시론

This study aims to investigate the change of functions of duibuqi and analysis other fuctions of duibuqi apart from apology from pragmatics and conversation analysis perspectives. Duibuqi consists of dui(face) and buqi(be not capable of performing), and means 'be not capable of facing'. After that, it is assumed to have changed to 'ashamed' and finally 'sorry'. In terms of functions, duibuqi is generally regarded as meaning 'sorry' typically, so mei guanxi is considered to consist adjacency pair with it, but in this investigation, mei guanxi is very little adjacent to duibuqi contrary to expectation(n=2/28, per.=7.1/100). About half of duibuqi(n=15/28, per.=53.6/100) functions in apology action sequence, and in the sequence, duibuqi functions much more for take the lead in apology(n=11/15) but not for a reaction against scolding(n=4/15). And the other half of duibuqi(n=13/28, per.=46.4/100) functions for softening the impact of reject or direct action, or for switching situations, e.g. from favorable situation to unfavorable situation, or for expressing speaker's emotion to the other's repair etc. Consequently, duibuqi has being changed its meanings and its functions is being changed accordingly.