Korean Wave in World Englishes: The Linguistic Impact of Korea's Popular Culture

The Korean Wave, which includes K-pop, K-dramas, K-film, K-food, and K-beauty, has gained global popularity, and this book examines its linguistic impact on World Englishes. It demonstrates how social media phenomena have facilitated the growth of Korea's cultural influence globally and enabled Korean-origin words to settle in varieties of Englishes, resulting in the globalisation of Korean-origin words and the revolutionisation of the English language through lexical migration. The study focuses primarily on media content, particularly social media, and includes case studies to examine how linguistic innovation has been engendered by the Korean Wave.

Format: Hardback
Length: 120 pages
Publication date: 16 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Korean Wave, a cultural phenomenon that encompasses various aspects such as K-pop, K-dramas, K-films, K-food, and K-beauty, has gained immense global popularity in recent years. Coined during the 1990s, the term "Korean Wave" has become a catch-all expression for the remarkable influence of Korean culture on the world stage. This book aims to explore the linguistic impact of the Korean Wave on World Englishes, highlighting its significance as both a phenomenon of popular culture and language.

The Korean Wave has exerted a significant influence on the growth of Korea's cultural influence globally. Through the power of social media, Korean origin words have found their way into various varieties of Englishes, leading to a globalized phenomenon. Words like "oppa" (older brother), once exclusive to Korean-speaking contexts, have now become part of the English language, used by people from different linguistic backgrounds.

The study focuses primarily on media content, particularly social media, as a means to examine how linguistic innovation has been engendered by the Korean Wave. Through case studies, the book provides concrete examples of how Korean origin words have been incorporated into English, transforming the language in significant ways. The Korean Wave has not only influenced the lexicon but also the grammar and pronunciation of English. For instance, the use of Korean honorifics and vocabulary has influenced the way English speakers address and refer to each other, creating a more nuanced and respectful language.

The Korean Wave has also had a significant impact on translation studies. As Korean content becomes more accessible to a global audience, translators have had to navigate the challenges of translating cultural references, idioms, and expressions from Korean to English. This has led to the development of new translation strategies and techniques, as well as a greater appreciation for the complexities of cultural translation.

Suitable for students and researchers of Korean linguistics, Korean culture, Korean popular culture, and translation studies, this book is a comprehensive and detailed study of the global linguistic impact of the Korean Wave. It provides a valuable insight into the ways in which language and culture interact, and how the Korean Wave has contributed to the evolution and transformation of the English language.

In conclusion, the Korean Wave has had a profound linguistic impact on World Englishes, demonstrating the power of culture to shape language and vice versa. Through social media and other forms of media content, Korean origin words have found their way into English, leading to a globalized phenomenon that has transformed the language in significant ways. The Korean Wave has not only influenced the lexicon but also the grammar and pronunciation of English, and has had a significant impact on translation studies. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in exploring the linguistic and cultural implications of the Korean Wave.

Weight: 400g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367191016