875
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Translingual English words of Korean origin and beyond: skinship, fighting, chimaek

ORCID Icon & ORCID Icon
Pages 69-83 | Received 09 Jun 2022, Accepted 09 Apr 2023, Published online: 17 Jul 2023
 

ABSTRACT

This study offers an overview of contemporary translingual English words derived from Korean and examines their unique characteristics. Previous research has highlighted that translingual words transcend borders (Kiaer, 2019), can emerge accidentally and swiftly propagate through online platforms, and exhibit various spelling variations (Ahn, 2021). By analyzing data from online databases like the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and Google Trends, this study explores additional qualities present in translingual English words originating from Korean. The qualities of Korean translingual words reveal intricate and diverse developmental trajectories. They enjoy widespread usage in a global context even before gaining local traction. The popularity of these words has surged alongside the remarkable growth of the K-pop fandom and the influence of Asian English speakers who introduce variations in spelling and meaning. Ultimately, this study delves into the pragmatic borrowing of Korean words by English speakers worldwide, underscoring the significant impact of Korean on contemporary English language dynamics.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.