[Hangul CC: Understanding the Korean Writing System]285

Introduction

Hangul, also known as the Korean alphabet, is a unique and efficient writing system that has been used for centuries to transcribe the Korean language. It was created by King Sejong the Great in 1443 and has since become an integral part of Korean culture and identity. Hangul is characterized by its simple and logical structure, making it relatively easy to learn and use.

Structure of Hangul

Hangul consists of 24 basic letters: 14 consonants and 10 vowels. Each letter represents a specific sound, and letters are combined together to form syllables, which are then written left to right in a block format. There are no spaces between words in Hangul, and punctuation marks are used in the same way as in English.

Consonants

The 14 Hangul consonants are divided into three categories: stops, fricatives, and affricates. Stops are formed by completely blocking the airflow, while fricatives are formed by partially blocking the airflow, and affricates are formed by a combination of a stop and a fricative. The consonants are as follows:
ㄱ (g)
ㄴ (n)
ㄷ (d)
ㄹ (r/l)
ㅁ (m)
ㅂ (b)
ㅅ (s)
ㅇ (∅)
ㅈ (j)
ㅊ (ch)
ㅋ (k)
ㅌ (t)
ㅍ (p)
ㅎ (h)

Vowels

The 10 Hangul vowels are divided into two groups: simple vowels and compound vowels. Simple vowels are single letters, while compound vowels are formed by combining two or more simple vowels. The vowels are as follows:
ㅏ (a)
ㅑ (ya)
ㅓ (eo)
ㅕ (yeo)
ㅗ (o)
ㅛ (yo)
ㅜ (u)
ㅠ (yu)
ㅡ (eu)
ㅣ (i)

Syllable Formation

Hangul syllables are formed by combining a consonant with a vowel. The consonant is written first, followed by the vowel. In addition, a syllable may also have a final consonant, which is written after the vowel. There are four basic syllable structures in Hangul:
Consonant + Vowel (CV)
Consonant + Vowel + Final Consonant (CVF)
Vowel + Consonant (VC)
Vowel + Consonant + Final Consonant (VCF)

Hangul CC

Hangul CC is a system of Romanization for Hangul that was developed by the South Korean government in 2000. It is based on a modified version of the Yale Romanization system and is designed to be easy to learn and use for English speakers. Hangul CC is widely used in Korea for indexing and searching Korean language resources, and it is also used in international communication.

Conclusion

Hangul is a unique and efficient writing system that has played a vital role in Korean culture and identity for centuries. Its simple and logical structure makes it relatively easy to learn and use, and the development of Hangul CC has made it more accessible to English speakers. With its rich history and continued use, Hangul is sure to remain an integral part of the Korean language for generations to come.

2025-01-04

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