The Korean Language: Structure, Use and Context

by Song; Jae Jung

• ISBN13: 9780415328029
• ISBN10: 0415328020
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-12-16
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

The Korean language is ranked 11th among the languages in the world in terms of numbers of speakers. Korean is now studied as an important foreign language in an increasing number of countries. This book provides a good overview of the language in a readable way without neglecting important structural aspects of the language. Furthermore, the book explains geographical, historical, social and cultural context of the language. This book provides a general description of the Korean language by highlighting important structural aspects of the language, whilst keeping technical details to a minimum. It situates the Korean language in its geographical, historical, social and cultural context so that readers can gain a good understanding of its speakers and the environment in which it is used. Covering a wide range of topics on Korean including its genetic affiliation, historical development, sound patterns, writing systems, vocabulary, grammar and discourse, the book also illuminates differences betweenNorth and South Korean, and related language planning and policy issues. The Korean Language is designed to be accessible primarily to English-speaking learners of Korean and scholars working in disciplines other than linguistics, although it also serves as a useful introduction for general linguists. The book will complement Korean language textbooks used in the classroom. It will be welcomed not only by readers with a wider interest in Korean studies, but also by Asian specialists in general. Moreover it will be valuable reading for so-called heritage learners of Korean.)

Author Biography

Jae Jung Song teaches linguistics at the University of Otago, New Zealand.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Abbreviations	xii
A note on romanization and Korean personal names	xiii
Map 1: North and South Korea	xiv
Map 2: Korea and the region	xv
Korea: history, culture and language	1	(21)
Geography: land and population	1	(2)
History	3	(7)
Culture and society: age, gender and chwulsin	10	(3)
Korean: the language and its wider relations	13	(9)
Sounds and their patterns: phonology	22	(23)
Standard South Korean: Phyocwune	24	(1)
Sounds in Korean: consonants, vowels and semivowels	24	(8)
Sounds in combination: syllables and sound adjustment	32	(7)
Beyond sounds: stress, intonation and connected speech	39	(3)
Pronunciation of loanwords	42	(3)
Writing systems: Hankul and Hanca	45	(22)
Hankul: historical and conceptual background	47	(6)
Origins of Hankul: a controversy?	53	(1)
Writing conventions: the Original Form Principle	54	(4)
Other conventions: spacing, punctuation and direction	58	(2)
Chinese characters in present day Korea: Hanca	60	(1)
How to find words in Hankul and Hanca dictionaries	61	(2)
Romanization systems: which system to use	63	(4)
Words and fixed expressions: vocabulary	67	(31)
Word classes: parts of speech	70	(13)
Origins: native words, Sino-Korean words and loanwords	83	(7)
Word formation: how words are created in Korean	90	(2)
Networks of meaning: semantics	92	(1)
Deference in Korean: respect and self-deprecation	93	(2)
Fixed expressions: idioms	95	(3)
Sentences and their structure: grammar	98	(45)
Word order: sentences and phrases	101	(8)
Noun phrases: role-marking particles	109	(8)
Verbs: grammatical and speech-level endings	117	(12)
Compound verbs: multiple-verb constructions	129	(6)
Complex sentences: sentences within sentences	135	(8)
Beyond sentences: discourse	143	(20)
Delimiting particles: topiclcontrast particle: -(n)un	145	(5)
Formal versus informal style: omission and contraction	150	(5)
Lubricators: fillers, responders and connectors	155	(2)
Social formulaic expressions: nature and use	157	(6)
North and South Korea: language policy and planning	163	(14)
Language policy and planning: historical background	164	(7)
Differences between Phyocwune and Munhwae	171	(4)
Looking forward: unified nation and unified language?	175	(2)
References and further reading	177	(5)
Index	182