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ISSN : 1226-4822(Print)
ISSN : (Online)
The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea Vol.24 No.3 pp.157-189
DOI : http://doi.org/10.14353/sjk.2016.24.3.06

A Corpus Analysis of Representation of Mothers in the South Korean Press: the collocates of 엄마 (mom)

Minhee Bang

Abstract

This study analyses the main lexical collocates of 엄마 (eomma: mom) in the corpus of the South Korean newspapers from 1990 to 2015. The collocates are grouped to see what semantic themes can be found in constructing discourse on motherhood, Firstly, 엄마 collocates most frequently with 아이 (ai: child) accounting for average 10.44% of all occurrences of eomma, while only 1.38% of the instances of the English counterpart mom(s) occurs with the English equivalents of 아이 in the COCA (Corpus of Contemporary American English). Secondly, there is a host of collocates referring to body parts and denoting physical closeness, conveying a sense of emotional intimacy and bond between a mother and a child. Thirdly, there are collocates denoting motherly love and care, juxtaposed with collocates denoting absence and suffering of mothers. Portraying mothers as a sacrificing caregiver while problematising their absence as a threat to children’s welfare positions women as having sole responsibility for child care. Lastly, there is a group of collocates related to education, reflecting the Korean zeal for education. The analysis of the collocate 엄마표 (eommapyo: mom-made) reveals how the responsibility of childcare and education is reduced to the personal and individual issue, with mothers being construed as a main agent of facilitating children’s academic success.

방민희
상명대학교

초록

 

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Table

  1. Journal Abbreviation : j. Korea Saf. Manag. Sci.
    Frequency : Published three times annually in April, August and December, including an international issue
    Doi Prefix : 10.14353/sjk.
    Year of Launching : 2013
    Publisher :
    The Sociolinguistic Society of Korea
    Indexed/Tracked/Covered By :

  2. Online Submission

    https://socioling.jams.or.kr

  3. The Sociolinguistic
    Society of Korea

  4. Editorial Office
    Contact Information

    - Tel: +82-10-4513-5639
    - E-mail: mibong78@hanmail.net