[Je]: A Journey Through the Korean Writing System342

Introduction

The Korean writing system, known as Hangul, is a unique and innovative creation that stands out among the world's writing systems. Developed in the 15th century by King Sejong the Great and his team of scholars, Hangul was designed to be a phonetic system, making it easier for Koreans to learn and write their own language. In this article, we will embark on a journey through the intricacies of the Korean writing system, exploring its history, structure, and usage.

Origins and History

Before the creation of Hangul, Korea used a combination of Chinese characters and an indigenous writing system known as Idu. However, Chinese characters were complex and difficult to master, and Idu was limited in its use. King Sejong recognized the need for a more accessible writing system and commissioned a team of scholars to develop one. The result was Hangul, which was promulgated in 1446.

Structure of Hangul

Hangul is a syllabic writing system, meaning that each syllable of a word is represented by a single character. The basic unit of Hangul is a block, which consists of three parts: an initial consonant, a medial vowel, and a final consonant. The initial consonant is placed at the top of the block, the medial vowel is placed in the middle, and the final consonant is placed at the bottom. If there is no final consonant, the block is left open at the bottom.

Initial Consonants

There are 19 initial consonants in Hangul, each represented by a unique symbol. These consonants are divided into two groups: voiceless and voiced. Voiceless consonants are pronounced without vibration of the vocal cords, while voiced consonants are pronounced with vibration. The following table shows the 19 initial consonants and their pronunciations:

ㄱ
ㄴ
ㄷ
ㄹ
ㅁ
ㅂ
ㅅ
ㅇ
ㅈ
ㅊ
ㅋ
ㅌ
ㅍ
ㅎ

g
n
d
r/l
m
b
s
ng
j
ch
k
t
p
h

Medial Vowels

There are 21 medial vowels in Hangul, each represented by a unique symbol. These vowels are divided into two groups: simple vowels and compound vowels. Simple vowels are pronounced with a single vowel sound, while compound vowels are pronounced with two vowel sounds. The following table shows the 21 medial vowels and their pronunciations:

ㅏ
ㅑ
ㅓ
ㅕ
ㅗ
ㅛ
ㅜ
ㅠ
ㅡ
ㅣ
ㅐ
ㅒ
ㅔ
ㅖ
ㅘ
ㅏ + ㅗ
ㅙ
ㅏ + 웨
ㅚ
ㅗ + ㅣ
ㅝ
ㅜ + ㅓ
ㅞ
ㅜ + 웨
ㅟ
ㅜ + ㅣ

a
ya
eo
yeo
o
yo
u
yu
eu
i
ae
yae
e
ye
wa
wae
oe
wae
wi
wo
we
wi
yu