[ㄷ] 添加現像의 硏究

On the Additional /t/ Phenomenon

One of the peculiar phenomena in sound changes in the Korean language is the additional /t/ which sometimes occurs between two words making a compound word. Viz., when 내 /nae/ (river) is combined with 길 /kil/ (road), or 바다 /pada/ (sea) with 가 /ka/ (side), we have 냇길 /nae t kill (road along a river), and 바닷가 /pada t ka/ (sea-side), the /t/ coming between the two words. This /t/ has been called 사이ㅅ, and represented by “ㅅ”. Opinians are divided among scholars about this phenomenon. Some hold that it is to prevent the ‘vocalization’ of the following consonant, while others hold that it only marks the ‘solidification’ of the following consonant. I, however, developed a new theory : that the same phenomenon is due entirely to a particular relation between two consonants. To back this up, I made a thorough historical examination of the phenomenon, with the following results. Ⅰ. There are three circumstances under which that phenomenon occurs: (1) between two words making a compound word. (2) after - ㄹ modifier-adjective, and (3) between stem and suffix. Ⅱ. In the 15th century and after, it was represented (1) by ㅅ in a compound word, (2) by ㅇ after, -ㄹ modifier-adjective, and (3) by ㄷ in the stem-suffix combination. I also gave reasons why such symbols were used.