K-pop鈥檚 journey, its linguistic hybridisation and the effect of the English language upon it

Abstract

Korean popular music (K-Pop) is a unique form of music that has become one of the most popular trends in the world. The thesis analyses the use of English in K-pop songs and shows how it functions on several levels that set K-pop apart from Western music; it can vary from a single lyric to the entire song. The English variety found in K-pop is most of the time influenced by American English (AE) and African American Vernacular English (AAE). English may act as a basic attention grabber but it can also be a tool for South Korean youths to express their freedom of speech and construct their identity while communicating with others, making K-pop a social hub for youths liberated from traditional conventions. With English and Korean working in harmony within the songs, the final product would be appreciated globally, thus increasing popularity of K-pop artists and K-pop as a distinct music genre.