The Uncertain Causality and Politeness in “-nikka”

This study examines the Korean causal connectives "-nikka" and "-eoseo," with a focus on their roles in politeness strategies and uncertain causality. Using Searle’s (1983) “Direction of Fit” framework, it explores how speaker-listener relationships shape the choice of these connectives. "-Nikka" is favored in directives and commissives, where uncertain causality and greater speaker control amplify face-threatening risks. Conversely, "-eoseo" is more common in assertives and declaratives, as it conveys established causality while minimizing face threats to the listener. In expressive acts, "-eoseo" typically reflects the speaker's subjective state without imposing on the listener. Nonetheless, "-nikka" may be used when the speaker introduces subjective or uncertain elements that increase the informational complexity of the causal relationship, subtly balancing considerations of politeness. These findings highlight the systematic interplay between linguistic choices and interactional contexts in Korean.