Navigating North Korea's Identity: A Cultural Theory Examination of Naming Practices and Implications for Engagement with the DPRK

Purpose-This study explores the naming practices of the international community for the DPRK. It investigates the nuanced connotations associated with alternative terminology such as "north Korea" and "North Korea," further exploring implications for engagement. Design/Methodolog...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNorth Korean review Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 48 - 73
Main Author Stephens, Zoe
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Jefferson McFarland & Company, Inc 01.04.2024
Subjects
Chinese languages
Connotation
Content analysis
Cultural factors
Cultural identity
Culture
Diplomatic & consular services
Discourse
Jargon
Legitimacy
Mandarin
Mass media
Names
Naming
Personal names
Political discourse
Politics
Research design
Research methodology
Taiwanese
Terminology
Theoretical linguistics
South Korea
Korean Peninsula
Taiwan
North Korea
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Summary:Purpose-This study explores the naming practices of the international community for the DPRK. It investigates the nuanced connotations associated with alternative terminology such as "north Korea" and "North Korea," further exploring implications for engagement. Design/Methodology/Approach-This research utilizes a mixed-methods approach through media content analysis and survey methodologies to examine naming conventions in Mandarin Chinese and English. It analyses Taiwanese and Chinese online media outlets. Additionally perceptions and linguistic preferences of DPRKorean experts are investigated. Findings-The research identifies the prevalence of "DPRK" (Chaoxian in Chinese media and "North Korea" (Beihan in Taiwanese media. Political and cultural contexts emerge as a crucial determinant influencing this variation in lexicon. Practical Implications-This study enhances understanding of the cultural, political, and linguistic factors shaping naming choices. Further, considering the DPRKorean standpoint of "North Korea" as unfavorable, the research emphasizes the implications for fostering effective engagement with the DPRK. Originality/Value-This scholarly inquiry contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the DPRK's naming practices and their broader implications, bridging cultural theory and political discourse. It sheds light on the role of naming as a pivotal component in engaging with the DPRK.
ISSN:1551-2789
1941-2886
DOI:10.2307/NKR.20.1.48