A COMPARATIVE SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF K-POP BORROWINGS IN SPECIALIZED AND GENERAL ENGLISH REGISTERS

Аннотация

K-pop's evolution from a niche interest to a dominant global force has resulted in the creation of a specialized linguistic ecosystem. This paper investigates the semantic shifts that occur when general English lexical items are borrowed into specialized K-pop discourse. Utilizing Halliday's Register Theory and the concept of Semantic Fields, this paper analyzes the divergence between general English and the specialized K-pop register. It examines how the unique configuration of Field, Tenor, and Mode has necessitated a functional adaptation of the English lexicon. The study provides a detailed comparative semantic analysis of terms such as "idol", "bias", and "stan", demonstrating processes such as semantic broadening and amelioration. It will also be touched upon how K-pop register resolves lexical gaps through borrowing of Korean words such as "maknae", "noona", "oppa", etc., which have recently been integrated into the Oxford English Dictionary. Our findings suggest that the connection between these two languages is solely driven by cultural proximity that is further facilitated by social media platforms. Their intermixing pushes linguistic boundaries and ultimately showcases English's openness and ability to absorb, remap, and expand through cultural influences.