A corpus-based study of anglicized neologisms in Korea

Abstract

Abstract This study examines usage changes of English-based loanwords and Korean replacement words promoted by the National Institute of Korean Language in a six-year span, using two corpora. It focuses on 18 Korean and anglicized word pairs appearing on the National Institute of Korean Language’s website that purportedly showcase the Institute’s successful efforts to curtail the usage of English words by promoting Korean replacement words. The results indicate that promoting Korean does not necessarily decrease the usage of English, and that the usage of English-based words seems to increase in conjunction with the Korean words. Several Korean words promoted by the National Institute of Korean Language have extremely low frequencies, and some loanwords are being used with various meanings. Commentaries are provided to explain various patterns of observed usage change.