A Linguistic Investigation: Are Koreans whiny

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A Linguistic InvestigationAre Koreans whiny?

• Soohee Kim
• Asian Languages and Literature
• University of Washington

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What is linguistics?

• Study of LANGUAGE which
• de-scribes
• searches for universal principles

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What?

• Morphology
• Syntax Get it over. (cf.) Get over it.
• Semantics
• Phonetics dog barking, sneezing vs. human speech
• Phonology
• bang! (cf.) Nguyen ? Nuyen
• lunchi, churchi
• suturaiku

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How?

• Scientifically
• Observation
• Hypothesis
• Experiment with data
• Confirmed or disproved?

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Why? What good is it?

• Studying language as an object
• A peek into human mind
• Applications
• Comparison
• Authenticity
• Teaching
• Computational products

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A Linguistic StudyAre Koreans whiny?

• Soohee Kim
• Asian Languages and Languages
• Emily Curtis, Lesley Carmichael
• Department of Linguistics

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Motivation for the study

• Awareness comments from
• Introduction to Linguistics class
• Americans hearing Koreans
• speak Korean
• speak English

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Possible reasons

• H0 Koreans ARE whiny (culturally acceptable)
• Speech styles
• Use of yes, no
• Use of Why dont you?, Dont you?
• Use of Isnt there?

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Definition to whine

• To utter a high-pitched, protracted sound, as
  in pain, fear, or complaint (American Heritage)
• To make a long high sad sound to complain in an
  unnecessarily sad voice (Longman)

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Hypothesis1

• Neutral intonation in Korean
• ?
• whiny (or negative) intonation in English

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What is intonation?

• Ups and downs of the voice
• Technically?

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Pilot study

• Data
• File 1 File 2
• Filter information
• 150Hz Low Pass filter Amplified X4
• Informants
• 10 Native English speakers
• Methods
• Free association (reaction to the intonation)
• Comparable English sentence

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Preliminary results File 1

• Free-associated adjectives
• confused, curious, and defensive
• puzzled, curious
• a little like being scolded (by an owl?)
• worried, nervous uneasy
• being accused of something, condescension, or
  questioning.
• whining, angry, (owl)
• sick, irritated, disgusted, scared
• trapped, funny, silly
• scared, afraid, startled
• startled, rude, interested (sounds like a whale)

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Preliminary results File 1

• Comparable English sentences
• What do you mean?, What do you want?
• I don't know,I dunno.
• Who are you?, Screw you!
• So then I went (and ran away), How are you?
• You startled me!

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Preliminary results File 2

• Free-associated adjectives
• gossipy, compliant
• alertness, and businesslike-ness, emphasizing,
  giving directions, talking to a child
• eager, pushy, loud
• being lectured, having something explained,
  neutral feeling
• claustrophobic, drowning, distant, trapped, no
  control
• chatty, happy, excited, rushed, cheerful,
  enthusiastic

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Preliminary results File 2

• Comparable English sentences
• Well, you would agree that the color of
  the picture there is magenta.
• Hey, if you're going to do that thing, maybe we
  can do thisother thing to.
• Please take a copy, and pass them to the back.
• Here's what we're going to do...but you have to
  listen to me.
• And you'll notice as you pet the monkey, that it
  will warm up to you. (directions to a child at
  the zoo, for example)
• Jimmy its time to clean your room. How many
  times did I tell you?
• I have to tell you something but Im in a hurry.
• So then he said I got the job and I ran off
  really happy.

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Summary of the pilot study

• General impression negative, whiny
• The intention of the native Korean speaker is
  neutral, eager (positive), friendly

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Tools for the study???

• Basic vocabulary H, L (M)
• Emotional Impact
• Emotionally neutral Korean intonation
• HLH or LLH (Jun, 1998)

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Before launching a research

• Rigorous pattern comparison
• Exact make-up of intonation (of HL)
• Relative degree of rise and fall?
• Speed of transition?
• Other factors
• Focus stress -wrong place for emphasis
• Who are we talking about?