A glocalized tongue: English nativized by some suprasegmental features o f Korean language

Korean variety of English has been becoming an inescapable reality of all educated Koreans in the postmodern globalization. To address this local linguistic phenomenon, this paper examines use of English as the result of direct contact with suprasegmental features of Korean language. Evidences are obtained from numerous discourses (both formal and informal) and observations from both English language teaching in many different niversities and the Korean mass-media. Findings display some salient suprasegmental aspects of English that are nativized by Korean. The present paper, for its organization, first discusses English in Korea from its historical, educational, sociolinguistic, and socio-economic and - political aspects. This is to speak out for the emergence of Korea English’ as a legitimate variety of English in its own sociolinguistic and sociocultural contexts. Secondly, some suprasegmental features of Korea English are shown. The study finally proposes a ‘bi-directionality principle’ for teaching English as world Englishes.