An Indexicality-Informed Analysis of Honorifics in Korean Language Textbooks

ABSTRACT Honorific forms have been widely recognized as one of the most pragmatically important aspects of the Korean language for learners to master. At the same time, learners’ difficulty using honorifics has been raised as a significant area of concern. This article considers how textbooks, many learners’ first and primary source of information on the Korean language, depict the usage patterns and interactional implications of honorifics. Honorific forms appearing in conversation scripts, as well as explicit descriptions of honorifics usage in three prominent textbook series, are analyzed. The current study then considers how textbook representations of honorifics compare to what discourse-based research has revealed about the indexical role of honorifics in interaction, proposes pedagogical interventions, and suggests areas for improvement in the fullness and accuracy of honorifics instruction.