한국언어과학회

Previously, the Korean focus particle -lato has been studied predominantly with respect to its uses in irrealis sentences. This paper focuses on its uses in realis sentences and claims that its scope can vary depending on the context. Specifically, the particle’s scope can be either the clause containing it, which is how it has been viewed in previous research, or a verb phrase. The paper argues that when its scope is over the verb phrase, the speaker compares two properties, rather than situations or events, which belong to different persons. The paper shows that this scopal variation is not limited to realis sentences, but also found in irrealis sentences. Hence, the subclausal scope cannot be treated as an exceptional phenomenon reserved for marginal cases. The current study also finds that contrast marking of -nun plays a significant role in the cases of subclausal scope.