A Syntactic Study on the Presentation Patterns of Proverbs in Korean Language Textbooks- Focusing on the Patterns of Their Combination with Co-occurrence Expressions -

This study aims to analyze the syntactic patterns of how proverbs co-occur with grammatical expressions in Korean language textbooks and to propose pedagogical implications for improving proverb instruction. To this end, five Korean textbooks—Seoul National University Korean, Yonsei Korean, Fun Fun Korean (Korea University), Kyung Hee Korean, and Vitamin Korean—were closely examined in terms of how proverbs and their co-occurring expressions are presented, their frequency of appearance, and their grammatical characteristics.
The findings revealed that Seoul National University Korean presented the widest variety of co-occurrence expressions, while Yonsei Korean showed the highest overall frequency. However, over 60% of the expressions in Yonsei Korean were limited to the “-다고” form, indicating a lack of balance and diversity in the types of expressions used. The most frequently used co-occurrence expressions were “-다고,” “-다더니,” and “-다는데,” all of which were found to function as key grammatical devices for reinforcing assertions or reflecting the speaker’s experience when combined with proverbs.
Meanwhile, most of the textbooks did not provide explicit explanations or systematic practice activities to guide learners in the actual use of proverbs with these expressions. Based on the pedagogical insights derived from this analysis, this study proposes textbook design strategies that encourage learners to focus on the combination of proverbs and co-occurrence expressions, helping them to develop grammatically accurate understanding and to apply proverbs effectively in various communicative contexts.