Functional affinity between conjunction and disjunction

Abstract Using diachronic and synchronic corpus data and employing the theoretical approach of grammaticalisation, this study examines the unique crossover of the Korean connective ttonun from conjunction to disjunction. Ttonun , consisting of tto (‘also’) and topic marker nun , initially denoted ‘also’ and ‘and’ but became ‘or’ in the early twentieth century. This study proposes that ttonun denoting ‘also’ collocated with disjunctive connectives and conjectural questions, which list possibilities and possible examples, to enhance their connection. Frequent use in these collocations led the change of ttonun from conjunctive to disjunctive. The study also explores affinities between conjunction and disjunction in Korean, and extends previous discussions on their lack of differentiation. Lastly, the study examines possible influence from Japanese on the change in question during the colonial period.