Cultural conceptualizations of Korean gyeomson ‘modesty’ schema in L2 learning

Cultural conceptualizations of Korean gyeomson ‘modesty’ schema in L2 learning

Language use as L1 and L2 both involves cultural conceptualizations because learning language requires continued cultural experiences and sustained mutual understanding among the members of a cultural group. This study aims to give some insights into the cultural conceptualization on L2 learning by examining the cultural schema of gyeomson ‘modesty’ and in Korean culture and language from the cultural linguistic perspective. Through the process of cultural experiences, the language learners internalize cultural schemas in both linguistic and non-linguistic aspects. This study shows how Korean L2 learners rely on the cultural conceptualizations such as cultural schema of gyeomson that have essentially connected to their L1 and argues that both L2 learning and intercultural communication require getting used to new configuration of cultural conceptualizations. The study concludes with a discussion of practical implications of such processes in L2 learning and intercultural sense making in English as a lingua franca context.