If Korea were a person, it would be diagnosed as a neurotic, with both an inferiority and a superiority complex. Euny Hong
The Korean language stands out for its vibrant proverbs, characters which resemble works of art and the nation’s rich history. In addition, Korean script, known as Hangul, shares an intricate connection with the country's historical narrative and despite the influences of China and Japan on its development, the Korean language has managed to preserve its unique identity and find its place among the world's languages.
It's important to note that the Korean alphabet comprises 24 letters, each intricately crafted to form what is known as "Jamos." Hangul Jamos take inspiration from Chinese characters and writing.
If this sounds intriguing, you may be searching history of Korean language, and who could blame you because it is so fascinating?
Besides a few Korean language facts and the story of the Korean language, this article will also address the history of the Korean language.
What are the Historical Origins of Korean?
Like most languages, the origins of Korean and indeed, the story of the Korean language is centuries old. The Korean alphabet, also known as Hangul, serves as the official linguistic foundation in both South Korea and North Korea. Hangul comprises 24 signs or characters, referred to as Jamos, and its evolution is intricately intertwined with the complex history of the country as well as the influence of neighbouring cultures.
Amongst interesting Korean language facts, the alphabet can be traced back to 1446 when it was first commissioned in a work titled "Hunmin Jeongeum," which is also spelt as "Hunminjeongeum," under the reign of King Sejong the Great.
Over the centuries, the history of the Korean language and Hangul has undergone significant phases, including expansion, prohibition, and rehabilitation. Today, Hangul remains the official alphabet of Korea.
It's important to note that while both South and North Korea recognise and use the same alphabet, North Korea refers to it as "Joseongeul" instead of "Hangul" due to differences in organisation and pronunciation.
The origins of Korean Hangul can be divided into three major phases:
- Creation and Expansion Phase: In the 15th century, faced with widespread illiteracy, King Sejong the Great, alongside scholars of the Confucian tradition, promulgated the Hunmin Jeogeum on October 9, 1446. This document aimed to systemise Korean writing based on Hanja, the classical Chinese system.
- Prohibition Phase: From 1504 until the early 19th century, Hangul was banned within Korean territory by King Yeongsangun, who ridiculed the new writing system. The prohibition persisted for three centuries without any official or administrative efforts to reinstate it.
- Rehabilitation Phase: The 19th century brought change, with Hangul's rehabilitation beginning in 1894 when the Japanese administration imposed the discontinuation of traditional Chinese in administrative documents. By 1912, Hangul had become the official alphabet for Korean writing, although it does coexist with Hanja.
The term "Hangul" (한글) can be interpreted as "the grand script or language" in Korean. Hanja (諺文) also means "script or language of proverbs." In comparison to its Chinese, Tibetan, and Japanese influences at the time of its creation, Korean is relatively easy to learn because its creators intentionally aimed for simplicity which is in contrast to the more complex neighbouring languages. Nonetheless, grasping the fundamentals remains essential to understanding the story of the Korean language.
History of Korean Language Alphabet
To gain a deeper understanding of Hangul and its contemporary significance, it's crucial to grasp the fundamental aspects of its structure and syntactic construction. We should first delineate three pivotal phases in the development of the Korean alphabet:
- 1446 - The Period of Oration: During this era, Koreans primarily existed orally, attempting to confront the challenges of illiteracy while contending with the dominance of the Chinese language.
- 15th to 19th century - The Period of Theorization: Despite a period of prohibition, significant developments took place in Korean during these centuries, largely influenced by the landmark work of 1446, especially in terms of pronunciation.
- 20th Century Onward - The Period of Popularization and Affirmation: In the last century, this phase played a crucial role in consolidating the foundations and organizing the alphabet as it stands today, encompassing 24 characters.
Throughout these periods, it wasn't just new characters that were added or modified but also sentence structures that were reimagined. For instance, the addition of characters during the popularisation period adhered to traditional and ancestral rules in North Korea, whereas South Korea adopted a more mixed approach. Today, these distinctions provide insights into the language's historical development.
Even the alphabet has some interesting Korean language facts. In it, there is a clear separation between consonants and vowels.
The alphabetical order follows a pattern where consonants come first, followed by vowels that follow each consonant.
To understand Korean Hangul and refine your ability to express yourself effectively, it's essential to master the nuances between consonants and vowels. Notable categories include the following:
- 11 Consonant Clusters (복합자음/複子音),
- 14 Basic Consonants (자음/子音),
- 5 Double Consonants (쌍자음/雙子音),
- 10 Basic Vowels (모음/母音),
- 11 Compound Vowels (복합모음/雙母音).
In addition, there is the unusual aspect of having letters grouped into syllables which makes Korean an easy and colourful language to learn.
Developments Since the Origins of Korean
The Korean language has asserted itself as an independent linguistic entity, and while some generations may still be influenced by Hanja, it is progressively establishing its place in both South and North Korean culture. One notable milestone in this transition is the shift since 1995, where Korean media abandoned traditional Chinese characters in favour of their national language. Additionally, when traversing Korea, you will notice that all signs are exclusively inscribed with Hangul characters.
It's also worth noting that Hangul has undergone a dynamic history, and it's easy to understand why the alphabet has evolved so significantly over the centuries. The history of Korean language and Hangul can be attributed to various reference works and pivotal stages that contributed to its development.
The following five key developments provide insight into this evolutionary journey:
- Hunmin Jeongeum - 1446: This period covers the theorisation of Korean Hangul, which included 28 letters at the time,
- Choe Sejin - 1527: a period of reorganisation of the signs is proposed for clarity by this national linguist with only 26 letters,
- Hong Gyehui - 1751: the period when the Korean Hangul alphabet was reduced to the 25 most commonly used letters for practical reasons,
- The National Writing Research Institute - 1907: the time when the rehabilitation of Korean Hangul generated further study, while the institute also proposed a reorganisation of characters,
- Hangul Matchumbeop - 1933: the Korean alphabet of 40 letters is used with the orthographic model proposed by the association.
Since the history of the Korean language is characterised by so many changes, it is appropriate that the Korean alphabet has a national holiday to celebrate it. This holiday takes place on 9 October in South Korea and 15 January in North Korea. Surely that is one of the Korean language facts worth remembering!
Mastering the Korean Alphabet Quickly
Now that you've gained a better understanding of the Korean language and all it has to offer, you might be eager to receive some valuable tips that can significantly help your learning journey.
Firstly, when it comes to learning the Korean alphabet, you will need a little patience and an open mind, but the good news is that many find it relatively easy to learn when compared to the complexities of Chinese or Japanese which have thousands of characters.
Secondly, make the most of the wealth of online resources available. YouTube, for one, offers a plethora of Korean videos and tutorials that cater to various learning styles and experience levels. In addition, there are excellent podcasts that allow learners to absorb Korean vocabulary while on the go.
Thirdly, there's no substitute for immersing yourself in Korean culture, whether that is through a visit to Korea or private lessons with a native teacher. Immersion is the most effective way to approach the language from the perspectives of history and culture.
Learning Korean is a truly rewarding endeavour.
Best of wishes with your learning journey: 당신의 학습에 행운을 빕니다! (Dangsinui hagseube haeng-un-eul bimnida!)
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