Comparative Research On Literary Style Theory Research In North Korea And South Korea

Stylistics, as one kind of interdiscipline, can not be regarded as a fully developed discipline. Its theoretical framework and methodology is still being explored. The South Korean and North Korean stylistic study is left behind, compared with the other fields in linguistics. The unique field of stylistics doesn’t draw attention from scholars of both countries until modern times, and thus stylistics has obtained some achievements. South Korea and North Korea have been isolated from each other in different social systems for more than60years. Therefore, the stylistic studies differ greatly under the different social language environments and different language policies.The linguistic theory has a direct impact on stylistic concept. Secondly, stylistics analyzes the stylistic role of language forms by means of linguistics. So the methodology of stylistics is based on linguistic science. As for linguistic stylistics, its meaning lies in that it can be said to be a supplement to literature stylistics which emphasizes subjective impression. This paper will make a concrete comparative study in terms of the elements affecting style such as speech sound, vocabulary and grammar. So far many scholars in North Korea and South Korea have been studying stylistics and have obtained some achievements. However, papers concerning the comparative study of stylistics of two countries are rare. This paper selects the stylistics works very influential in North Korea and South Korea respectively as the comparative subject. Based on the previous studies, this paper aims to make a comprehensive comparison through meticulous and detailed analysis, find out problems and then come up with a reasonable description of stylistics.The value of this paper is mainly reflected in the following three aspects. First, from the perspective of theoretical research, this paper clearly identifies some problems such as the elements of style, the study object of stylistics, the differences and connections between stylistics and relevant disciplines, and the developing direction of stylistics so as to have a relatively unified understanding and to clarify some conceptual confusion. Second, by excluding political factors, the paper makes a comprehensive analysis of all levels of linguistics such as speech sound, vocabulary and syntax from a relatively objective angle and points out the differences and deficiencies of stylistic studies in North Korea and South Korea, which serves as a direction for stylistic studies in the future. Third, the paper summarizes the stylistics in China, North Korea and South Korea. By switching from diachronic study to synchronic study, it explores the study object and research methods of stylistics, which has great significance in mastering the stylistic studies in North Korea and South Korea.Chapter One is the Introduction part and it mainly introduces the study object, study purpose and the achievements and deficiencies of previous studies.Chapter Two discusses the concept and classification of style as well as figures of speech. In order to specify the subject in stylistic study and give full play to its role, this chapter chronologically makes a descriptive record of the history of stylistic studies in North and South Korea and representative scholars. Due to the different stances and perspectives scholars hold, there are many different definitions of style. This paper first comprehensively and systematically introduces various definitions and classification of style in academic field until now and meanwhile discusses the classification of figures of speech and the ambiguity of rhetoric phrases.Chapter Three focuses on speech sound and discusses the vowels and consonants (phoneme analysis) and rhythmic effects (mora analysis) in a classified manner. In linguistics, speech sound is the most distant level from ideology. As part of phonematics, speech sound contains vowels, consonants and syllables. Even if the meaning is similar, different styles may appear due to the phonetic features. The explanation in terms of phonetics is atypical linguistic research methodology.Style also hinges on the vocabulary type more frequently used in the text. The criteria of classification of vocabulary change due to the differences of research viewpoints. Chapter Four has an account of the stylistics of vocabulary in North and South Korea from various aspects such as vernacular words, Chinese words, loan words, dialects, argot, proverbs, synonyms, antonyms, and homophones. Linguistic stylistics should explain the stylistic impression that literary critics or readers point out through analysis of language features. If stylistics only stays on the analysis of formal characteristics of language and doesn’t refer to specific stylistic impression, it can’t be called stylistics in itself and it is only part of morphology, grammar or phonetics. Grammar doesn’t touch upon style, and in contrast stylistics can relate to grammar. This chapter analyzes the stylistic studies in North and South Korea from the perspectives of tense, polite grammar, positive and passive forms, text length and text type.Chapter Six is the Conclusion part and summarizes the main research content of this paper and points out the limitations which exist in this paper.The stylistic studies in South Korea are relatively active. However, because of the different ideals experts studying stylistics hold, it can be said that there is no unified stylistic theory, terminology and research method in South Korea. In linguistic stylistics, daily expressions should be the principal study object. But in South Korea, stylistic study of literary terms accounts for a large proportion and that of daily expressions is rare. Spoken language and daily expressions are original and entitative, while literary terms are conditional and specific, so like the other language study fields, stylistic study should start with the study of daily spoken language. The meaning of stylistic study in North Korea lies in the fact that it chooses daily expressions rarely studied in South Korea as its own study object. In North Korea, according to the differences of study fields, there are different categories of style types but the differentiation is somewhat unclear, which hinders the academic development. Due to the closed-door policy for a long time, North Korea can’t accept the advanced foreign linguistic theories. Therefore, the stylistic study in North Korea seems to be stereotyped. The subject of stylistic study in North Korea is to separate language from politics and maintain the diversity of stylistic study.