Culture shock!
Asiatic characters on buildings, signs, and everywhere instead of
customary English stunned me upon my arrival in Korea. Finding
myself in a foreign land with an equally mystifying language made
me realize that I was dependent on those with whom I would
communicate if I was to tour independently. Somehow I would have
to make myself understood, as I would have to ask rather than “read”
myself around. I was also limited to the GI lingo or street language—
which was not Korean—to communicate with the populace outside
the military sector. I realized that my first personal challenge would
be to learn Korean since I was a guest in their country. I was truly
excited with this golden opportunity to gain knowledge of an Oriental
language.
Hangul
The Korean script which is called Hangul was invented on
October 1443 under King Sejong, the fourth king of the Choson
Dynasty, who called it Hun-min-chon-gum (proper sounds to instruct
the people). He successfully presented the Korean people an
alphabet of their very own, invented by Koreans for Koreans so that
the most underprivileged people could learn to read and write.
Being fluent in Spanish, the phonics (sounds) of Hangul came
quite natural. At first the bewildering characters (writing) were a little
complex but as I became familiar with the stroked alphabet, the
strokes became syllables, and the syllables became words, each
with its own sound. In time, the vocabulary I learned fell into place
with the writing and it all came together and made sense, as it all will
to you. A high achiever can gain knowledge of the “Korean writing”
system in a single day, and all who are interested can do so within a
few days, just look at the chart.
Korean My Way
The purpose of this Korean My Way feature is not to instruct the
Korean language—there are language classes at schools or other
websites—but to acquaint the viewer with reading and writing
Korean by the use of strokes and phonics (sounds). I do not claim to
have mastered the written language, only enough to loosely read
and write it. Upon completion of these units you will be able to read
and pronounce Korean characters much like you can read (but not
understand) most European languages that use our alphabet. You
will be able to comfortably further your education with everyday
conversation books.
Korean My Way then, is an instruction in strokes and phonics.
However, you will also have an added advantage of writing in your
preferred language but in Korean characters—a sort of code. For
example, I am able to write Spanish words in Korean writing.
Needless to say you will be able to write your name and names of
family members using this foreign alphabet. You will also have the
added advantage of distinguishing between Chinese picture
characters and Japanese strokes from Korean writing.
The Alphabet
The Korean alphabet is composed of twenty-four symbols
consisting of ten vowels and fourteen consonants. Later we will
learn about the eleven diphthongs (I said later) and five double
consonants (much later) and don’t worry about these; they’re just
fancy names for easy sounds and strokes.
Fix in your mind that the Korean alphabet is composed of line
strokes, very few curves, and only one circle.
Fix in your mind that a group (or arrangement) of from two to four
alphabet strokes complete a syllable—a syllable is a character. As
you already know, syllables create words.
Korean Alphabet Chart
Asiatic characters on buildings, signs, and everywhere instead of
customary English stunned me upon my arrival in Korea. Finding
myself in a foreign land with an equally mystifying language made
me realize that I was dependent on those with whom I would
communicate if I was to tour independently. Somehow I would have
to make myself understood, as I would have to ask rather than “read”
myself around. I was also limited to the GI lingo or street language—
which was not Korean—to communicate with the populace outside
the military sector. I realized that my first personal challenge would
be to learn Korean since I was a guest in their country. I was truly
excited with this golden opportunity to gain knowledge of an Oriental
language.
Hangul
The Korean script which is called Hangul was invented on
October 1443 under King Sejong, the fourth king of the Choson
Dynasty, who called it Hun-min-chon-gum (proper sounds to instruct
the people). He successfully presented the Korean people an
alphabet of their very own, invented by Koreans for Koreans so that
the most underprivileged people could learn to read and write.
Being fluent in Spanish, the phonics (sounds) of Hangul came
quite natural. At first the bewildering characters (writing) were a little
complex but as I became familiar with the stroked alphabet, the
strokes became syllables, and the syllables became words, each
with its own sound. In time, the vocabulary I learned fell into place
with the writing and it all came together and made sense, as it all will
to you. A high achiever can gain knowledge of the “Korean writing”
system in a single day, and all who are interested can do so within a
few days, just look at the chart.
Korean My Way
The purpose of this Korean My Way feature is not to instruct the
Korean language—there are language classes at schools or other
websites—but to acquaint the viewer with reading and writing
Korean by the use of strokes and phonics (sounds). I do not claim to
have mastered the written language, only enough to loosely read
and write it. Upon completion of these units you will be able to read
and pronounce Korean characters much like you can read (but not
understand) most European languages that use our alphabet. You
will be able to comfortably further your education with everyday
conversation books.
Korean My Way then, is an instruction in strokes and phonics.
However, you will also have an added advantage of writing in your
preferred language but in Korean characters—a sort of code. For
example, I am able to write Spanish words in Korean writing.
Needless to say you will be able to write your name and names of
family members using this foreign alphabet. You will also have the
added advantage of distinguishing between Chinese picture
characters and Japanese strokes from Korean writing.
The Alphabet
The Korean alphabet is composed of twenty-four symbols
consisting of ten vowels and fourteen consonants. Later we will
learn about the eleven diphthongs (I said later) and five double
consonants (much later) and don’t worry about these; they’re just
fancy names for easy sounds and strokes.
Fix in your mind that the Korean alphabet is composed of line
strokes, very few curves, and only one circle.
Fix in your mind that a group (or arrangement) of from two to four
alphabet strokes complete a syllable—a syllable is a character. As
you already know, syllables create words.
Korean Alphabet Chart
Penmanship
Readjust traditional writing in your mind.
Rearrange your mind to think of writing from the upper right hand
corner of your paper downward—not left, but down. In time you will
recognize characters on advertisements or signs “westernized” from
left to right.
Practice writing on blank copy paper, you will get better as time
goes on.
Vowels and Consonants
As we progress through the units you will come to understand the
importance of placement (or arrangement) of the vowels with the
consonants, and how they form syllables that are in effect
characters. The latter diphthongs and double consonants will fall into
place as needed.
Remember that groups of vowels and consonants create syllables.
How to take these lessons
As with all learning, take it a bit at a time. Find a comfortable time,
a quiet moment when you can spend at least fifteen to twenty
minutes at your monitor. Challenge one lesson at a time. Do not get
bogged down on any lesson, but continue at a steady pace. Take the
time to pronounce each vowel and consonant as you write them.
Practice writing and saying the consonants and vowels (and
syllables) at opportune moments away from your monitor to become
proficient with each stroke, curve, and circle.
Familiarize yourself with the contents. You may choose to view
the entire volume, each individual unit, or view the character chart
and say the syllables. Still, it is all in fun sit back and leisurely enjoy
Korean My Way. Remember: a high achiever can gain knowledge of
the “Korean writing” system in a single day, and all who are
interested can do so within a few days, just look at the chart.
SP4 Julio Martinez
Readjust traditional writing in your mind.
Rearrange your mind to think of writing from the upper right hand
corner of your paper downward—not left, but down. In time you will
recognize characters on advertisements or signs “westernized” from
left to right.
Practice writing on blank copy paper, you will get better as time
goes on.
Vowels and Consonants
As we progress through the units you will come to understand the
importance of placement (or arrangement) of the vowels with the
consonants, and how they form syllables that are in effect
characters. The latter diphthongs and double consonants will fall into
place as needed.
Remember that groups of vowels and consonants create syllables.
How to take these lessons
As with all learning, take it a bit at a time. Find a comfortable time,
a quiet moment when you can spend at least fifteen to twenty
minutes at your monitor. Challenge one lesson at a time. Do not get
bogged down on any lesson, but continue at a steady pace. Take the
time to pronounce each vowel and consonant as you write them.
Practice writing and saying the consonants and vowels (and
syllables) at opportune moments away from your monitor to become
proficient with each stroke, curve, and circle.
Familiarize yourself with the contents. You may choose to view
the entire volume, each individual unit, or view the character chart
and say the syllables. Still, it is all in fun sit back and leisurely enjoy
Korean My Way. Remember: a high achiever can gain knowledge of
the “Korean writing” system in a single day, and all who are
interested can do so within a few days, just look at the chart.
SP4 Julio Martinez
KOREAN MY WAY
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