Topic Continuity: Zero Anaphora and Case Marker Ellipsis

This study investigates how topic continuity is realized in colloquial Korean when zero anaphora or case marker dropping is involved. It also discusses when the case marker dropping is possible and when it is not possible, as well as how Korean speakers process utterances that involve instances of zero anaphora or case marker dropping. It argues that the use and non-use of zero anaphora or case marker is closely related to the discourse continuity, i.e. the more continuous the discourse topic (or referent) is, the less overt linguistic expression is necessary.