K-pop 노랫말들의 언어 혼종

K-pop Lyrics’ Language Hybridization: Use of English Varieties and Code-switching

This paper analyzed K-pop song texts in terms of language hybridization. The findings show that language hybridization proceeds in two ways: incorporating different varieties of English and code-switches between Korean and English. Different English varieties such as standard colloquial English, African American Vernacular English, and Koreanized English are used in K-pop song texts. Also, code-switches are the significant mode of language use in all the K-pop song texts analyzed for the research. K-pop lyrical texts maximize Korean and English bilingual resources to appeal not only to the local Korean audience but to the global fans. In the language hybridization processes, English varieties and Korean/English code-switches are utilized as effective resources in striking a balance between the locality and the globality of the K-pop songs.