kangmi: learning korean

be on hiatus 중단되다

I’ll be on hiatus again for the next week.

Posted by kangmi on July 26, 2004 at 8:00 AM0 comments

Roadmap to Korean (Chapter 2)

Richard Harris makes the following observation in Roadmap to Korean (pages 17-18):

The Internet is a vehicle for change in a way that Koreans are not familiar with on a linguistic level—by creating a sense of anonymity, the Internet is breaking down the walls of traditional verb conjugations steeped in thousands of years of Confucian influence. ...today the Internet provides a medium by which young boys can coverse freely with older men, teachers with students, grandparents with a-joom-ma (아줌마), and all with complete secrecy. The affect [sic] that this has had on the language is profound.

People no longer have to identify themselves based on age, and so can feel freer in molding the language to suit their needs....

...it’s a clear sign that the walls of Confucianism are being eroded with respect to the language.

Harris also describes the linguistic gap between users who use the Internet (and although he doesn’t mention it, those who use text messaging) and those who don’t. By default, that’s likely an enormous generational gap. He points out that

There is an active campaign going on by the government to try and teach students the correct spelling of words in the Korean language, as teachers have begun complaining that spelling among younger students is becoming more and more erratic (presumably because of the Internet). (page 19)

Having been part of several online communities, I’ve had reason (and experience ) to contemplate the idea that people with whom I communicate online might not translate well to the other world of my life (sometimes they do, and sometimes they don’t). But the context of communication in Korean makes me wonder how (or if) freer online communication will impact one-to-one personal encounters.

Posted by kangmi on July 23, 2004 at 2:00 PM2 comments

아름다운 유혹 82회

Soap operas everywhere frequently end episodes with dramatic statements. 아름다운 유혹 is part of that crowd:

민우: 아버지, 정희 어머니 유언장 사본 가지고 계신 거 맞죠?

유언장: a (written) will; a testament.

사본: a manuscript; a written copy; [부본] a duplicate; [등사물] a transcript.

가지고: from; with; by means of.

Back when 정희’s mother died in a car accident, there was some funny business with a piece of paper. I thought it was a land deed, but some research and recent events indicate that it may have been her will.

Posted by kangmi on July 23, 2004 at 8:00 AM0 comments

Roadmap to Korean

Based on Blinger’s recommendation, I recently purchased Richard Harris’ Roadmap to Korean.

I read about this book when it first came out, and although its subject interested me, I’ve learned that not all books written by expats (in Korea or otherwise) should be purchased (or even published). However, Blinger’s recommendation encouraged me to take the plunge, and I found myself virtually plunking down a very real $27.95 (I haven’t paid full price for a book in years).

While I’ll never be able to read a book without a few quibbles along the way, last evening’s preliminary survey assured me that I didn’t make the wrong choice. Roadmap to Korean is both engaging and informative. I can’t be certain how useful an advanced student would find it, but this beginner expects to learn loads of new information. It will also provide a fine excuse to study during my upcoming hiatus.

Expect future posts on particular chapters. And if you’re a student of Korean, get your hands on a copy. It’s worth a lot more than its $27.95 price tag.

Posted by kangmi on July 22, 2004 at 2:00 PM1 comments

아름다운 유혹 81회 (GHA question)

16:46:

김실장: 너 목소리가 왜 그래? 누구 옆에 있어? 혹시 박기태랑 같이 있는 거 아니야?

I last looked at 옆에 있- here. 김실장 is on the phone to 주란 and doesn’t know that 주란 is indeed with someone...he’s only guessing.

Does 누구 옆에 있어? have the connotation of “Who’s there (with you)?”, or am I sensing something that’s not there?

Posted by kangmi on July 22, 2004 at 8:00 AM1 comments

MIC

Many people (sensible and otherwise) thought that the blog blockage/censorship would have been over by now. It’s not. (If it weren’t for my upcoming hiatus and solving technical problems, I might take blinger up on his offer.)

Therefore I am belatedly adding the voice of this blog to that of other Korea bloggers. For a recap and updates, click here.

Posted by kangmi on July 22, 2004 at 8:00 AM0 comments