Chapter 2. The function of names

Abstract

The current study investigates the use of a person’s name in Japanese and Korean. A name is the first appellation given to an individual, and functions not only to identify and address them, but also to establish and maintain everyday interactions. In many languages, a name can typically be either a given name or family name only, or both in full, and each form of a name (i.e., given name, family name or full name) may function differently from language to language. The current study aims to explore the differences between Japanese and Korean in terms of the distribution of different forms of names, and the social functions and pragmatic effects of these forms. Based on the analysis of three Japanese TV drama series and their Korean remake versions, the study shows that, in terms of frequency, Japanese can be characterised as a “family name” language whereas Korean can be characterised as a “full name” language. The study also demonstrates that there are differences in the use of family names and full names between the two languages.