익명성을 표현하는 영어 이니셜: 사용실태에 대한 사회언어학적 분석

Recently, a distinctive way of using English alphabet is found in Korea. The English initial of a Korean name, whether it is a company or a person, is frequently used to express anonymity. Its usage is quite intriguing for a number of reasons: first, a principle seems to be at work in using two types of initials, 'true' and 'pseudo' initials, although it is often arbitrarily determined by the writer; second, the referent who is termed by a 'true initial' may be faced with the doubt and other people with the same initials might may suffer because of it; third, the usage is inevitably limited to a group of Koreans who know and prefer English, thus segregates other people who prefer traditional expressions to English counterparts.