Abstract
This study analyses common and different features of alcohol related expressions in Korean and Czech and attempts to provide a platform for understanding of both languages and cultures as drinking culture, i.e. the social and cultural role of alcohol, is very important for Koreans and Czechs. For Koreans, alcohol is the most representative means of social relationship building; for Czechs, alcohol is an important part of food culture.
At first, this research classifies Korean and Czech alcohol related expressions into four groups according to form and meaning: 1) same form, same meaning, 2) same form, different meaning, 3) different form, same meaning, 4) different form, different meaning. Group 1) and group 2) show low occurrence of expressions, while groups 3 and 4 show a whole range of expressions.
Both Korean and Czech tend to express "alcohol drinking", "alcohol intoxication" and the "day after condition". The Korean language accents "drinking together", "emotionally affected alcohol related expressions" and "physical condition after alcohol consumption", the Czech language stresses "heavy drinking", comparative and analogical expressions based on the value of 'wine' and 'beer'.
From these expressions we may deduce the cultural value and meaning of wine and beer. This leads to the final observation, that Korean uses the general noun sul and not particular terms such as soju, maekju, makkeolli, while Czech differentiate between wine and beer or omits a noun entirely.