Wikijunior:Languages/Korean

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What writing system(s) does this language use?

A statue of King Sejong

One thing unique about the Korean language is the Hangeul ("han-guhl") alphabet. While Chinese uses a complex character for each word, and Japanese mixes two syllabaries (each character of the alphabet representing a syllable rather than a single sound) with complex Chinese characters, the Hangeul alphabet uses actual letters, each one with its own sound. Hangeul letters are arranged to make syllables in Korean words.

Hangeul is the only purposely invented alphabet in popular daily use. The alphabet was invented in 1444 during the reign of King Sejong (1418 – 1450). King Sejong was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty and is one of the most highly regarded. He originally named the Hangeul alphabet Hunmin Jeongeum, which means "the correct sounds for the instruction of the people".

How many people speak this language?

There are between 67 and 78 million Korean speakers around the world. It is one of the top 20 most spoken languages in the world.

Where is this language spoken?

Korean is spoken primarily in North and South Korea, in the northeastern parts of China, Japan, and the western part of the US, However, there are large Korean speaking communities in many major cities around the world.

What is the history of this language?

Korean is a very old language. Unfortunately, researchers are still not sure of how it evolved. Some researchers think that it shared a common history with Turkic, Mongolic, and Tungusic languages. Other researchers think that it may have evolved with Japanese from Austronesian (Australian and South East Asian) languages. One thing is sure though—it is not a variation of Chinese.

Who are some famous authors or poets in this language?

One famous author is Soon-Won Hwang. He was born in 1915 in Pyoungannam-do, and graduated from Waseda University with a degree in English Literature in 1939. He taught at Seoul Middle High School and also in the College of Liberal Arts and Science of Kyung-Hee University. He was a member and senior member of the Art Institute.

His works include the poems "Singing Loudly" and "Antique"; short stories such as "Swamp", "Dog of Neck Cross Village", "Crane", "Lost People", "Time Only For You and Me", and "Mask"; and the novels "Descendant of Cain", "Grafting of Human", "Trees, Standing on the Slope", "The Sun and the Moon", and "The Die of Gods". 12 volumes of "The Complete Works of Soon Won Hwang" were published in 1985.

Basic Korean

Language Structure:

There are 14 primitive consonants and 10 vowels in Korean.

Numerals

Basic Expressions

Common words

Adjectives

What is a simple song/poem/story that I can learn in this language?

Aegugka (The national anthem of South Korea)
Korean English
동해 물과 백두산이 마르고 닳도록

하느님이 보우하사 우리나라 만세

 Until the day when the East Sea's waters and Mt. Baekdu are dry and worn away,

Heaven protect and preserve us. Long live our nation!

남산 위에 저 소나무 철갑을 두른 듯

바람서리 불변함은 우리 기상일세

 The pinetree atop Namsan stands firmly unchanged under wind and frost as if wrapped in armour,

as is our resilient spirit.

가을 하늘 공활한데 높고 구름 없이

밝은 달은 우리 가슴 일편단심일세

 Autumn sky is void and vast, high and cloudless,

the bright moon is our heart, undivided and true.

이 기상과 이 맘으로 충성을 다하여

괴로우나 즐거우나 나라 사랑하세

 With this spirit and this mind, give all loyalty,

in suffering or in joy, love the country.

무궁화 삼천 리 화려 강산

대한 사람 대한으로 길이 보전하세

 Three thousand Li of splendid rivers and mountains, filled with Roses of Sharon;

Great Korean People, stay true to the Great Korean way.

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