Throughout the semester I have continued to expand my vocabulary of Korean terms, specifically focusing on food-related terms (meat, vegetables, grains, fruit, types of meals, etc.) I also have been retaining my knowledge on how to tell the date, time, and weather each day by writing it in Korean each day. With my newly learned vocabulary, I hope to be able to use these terms in sentences that can be used day to day, for a restaurant setting or grocery store/market setting. Something that we’ve both enjoyed doing is watching a Korean Drama to aid in the language learning experience as listening to the language really helps one to get used to the vernacular, pinpoint new words, and understand sentence structure. Some strategies that have been implemented into my language learning journey include resources provided by global studios (Korean to English dictionary textbook) Youtube, music, entertainment, vocabulary quizzes, and actively writing Korean. These strategies have been very effective in helping me retain what I have learned from my language partner and continue to practice and build with what I already know well. The use of Quizlet for vocabulary quizzes has really helped me with memorizing terms better. Before using Quizlet, I would struggle with keeping up with reviewing my new vocabulary but Quizlet made it easier with the flashcard function and the test function. I will build on what I have learned about the language by starting to focus more on sentence structure and how and if it changes when slowly making it more complex. I would also like to learn if Korean has measured words for people or objects and learn more about when to use the right honorifics for the right person. I think now, I feel even more enthusiastic about continuing to learn Korean because I didn’t realize how much progress I’ve made and much faster I have become physically writing Hangul. In the connection between the language and the Korean culture where it is spoken, I have learned from my language partner the importance of using formal speech to perpetuate politeness as it is important to the culture and the Korean people. Even the simplest of phrases have a specific way that they should be said to a stranger/acquaintance or someone that is older or in a position of power. So that is something I will definitely need to continue to take into consideration when I am writing and speaking Korean. I will definitely have to make revisions in your task lists and/or short-term and long-term goals by continuing to focus on expanding my vocabulary but also making sure to slowly integrate grammar so I am able to progress in the aspect of practicing to form my own sentences correctly and communicate effectively with those that speak Korean. I am very grateful for my language partner that has helped me so much. The self-directed language course has encouraged me to continue on with my language-learning journey with Korean in the future. 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1BgqLOryWsIBVDhYRXA0GXrVE5Ys4OdCzHKSbW44EiVk/edit?usp=sharing

This week and the previous week I have continued working on expanding my vocabulary of Korean terms, specifically focusing on food-related terms (meat, vegetables, grains, fruit, types of meals, etc.) I also have been retaining my knowledge on how to tell the date, time, and weather each day by writing it in Korean each day. With my newly learned vocabulary, I hope to be able to use these terms in sentences that can be used day to day, for a restaurant setting or grocery store/market setting. My language partner, Rachel, and I have continued to have our weekly meetings which have been very productive and very helpful to my language-learning journey. We still haven’t been able to go to the Korean Restaurant for our cultural experience but I hope we will be able to this final week of the semester. Something that we’ve both enjoyed doing is watching a Korean Drama to aid in the language learning experience as listening to the language really helps one to get used to the vernacular, pinpoint new words, and understand sentence structure. Some strategies that have been implemented into my language learning journey include resources provided by global studios (Korean to English dictionary textbook) Youtube, music, entertainment, vocabulary quizzes, and actively writing Korean. These strategies have been very effective in helping me retain what I have learned from my language partner and continue to practice and build with what I already know well. The use of Quizlet for vocabulary quizzes has really helped me with memorizing terms better. Before using Quizlet, I would struggle with keeping up with reviewing my new vocabulary but Quizlet made it easier with the flashcard function and the test function. I will build on what I have learned about the language by starting to focus more on sentence structure and how and if it changes when slowly making it more complex. I would also like to learn if Korean has measured words for people or objects and learn more about when to use the right honorifics for the right person. I think now, I feel even more enthusiastic about continuing to learn Korean because I didn’t realize how much progress I’ve made and much faster I have become physically writing Hangul. In the connection between the language and the Korean culture where it is spoken, I have learned from my language partner the importance of using formal speech to perpetuate politeness as it is important to the culture and the Korean people. Even the simplest of phrases have a specific way that they should be said to a stranger/acquaintance or someone that is older or in a position of power. So that is something I will definitely need to continue to take into consideration when I am writing and speaking Korean. I will definitely have to make revisions in your task lists and/or short-term and long-term goals by continuing to focus on expanding my vocabulary but also making sure to slowly integrate grammar so I am able to progress in the aspect of practicing to form my own sentences correctly and communicate effectively with those that speak Korean. I am very grateful for my language partner that has helped me so much.

If I were to conduct a linguistic study of my target language and culture, I would start by investigating the historical events and history of Korea. Part of this research would center around finding possible connections (points of contact from other nations) with different cultures and languages that could have possibly impacted the Korean language. Although Korean is known to be part of its own language family called the Koreanic language family, there is some debate as to whether it may have ties to the Altaic Language Family. I would want to research in what way the Altaic Language Family is similar to Korean and if there is historical evidence to support it. Studying the Altaic Language Family or looking at existing research of the two language families being comparisons, would give insight into finding key similarities or differences that could aid in easing the transition of learning Korean. I would also investigate the aspects of Korean grammar, and see if it's similar in any way to the languages of its neighbors (countries). 

I have started to write in Korean. I would say writing free hand is the most comfortable way for me as I have not had much practice with typing it. I’ve noticed similar patterns in the structures where honorifics in the language are placed at the end of a phrase or sentence. Compound sentences are made with connective endings while simple sentences in Korean are the simplest way of forming a sentence with a subject, object, and verb in that order. Based on my knowledge of parts of speech in Korean, I realized that the way sentences are spoken are basically the same way in which they are written.

안녕하세요, 모해수 (Mo hae soo-my Korean name) 입니다. 저는 21 살이고 대학생입니다.

Translation: Hello, my name is Mo hae soo. I am 21 years old and a college student. 

오늘은 11 월 6 일 2022 년 일요일입니다 이고 오늘은 날씨가 맑습니다

Translation: Today is Sunday, November 6, 2022 and the weather is nice/clear. 

Tripikata Koreana

While searching for a new topic on language influences of artifacts on Korean language, I came across something called the Tripitaka Koreana. This is a collection of Korean scripts of the Haeinsa Temple locate in Korea, which contain sacred Buddhist texts. Buddhism is a religion that originated in India by Siddhartha Gautama but as it traveled toward the East (through trade), it became something more closely known as East Asian Buddhism which varied from the original concept of the religion based on each individual country's (that came into contact with Buddhism) prior religious beliefs to the introduction of Buddhism. After the religion of Buddhism had been reviewed by Korean scholars, the religion had been reformed and interpreted in a different light. In today’s day and age, it is more closely known as Tonbulgyo, Zen, or Korean Buddhism to Koreans. The Tripitaka Koreana, written in the 13^th century, was carved onto wooden printing blocks that totaled to be about 80,000 wooden blocks (Hanja is the written language that was carved onto these 80,000 wooden blocks). Because of the introduction of Buddhism, it led to the use of Hanja (Chinese characters) which would allow Koreans to accept Chinese culture without sacrificing their native tongue (spoken Korean language).

The language written on these wooden blocks contained hanja script which use Chinese characters but do not hold the same pronunciation of Chinese language. It is possible that the Tripitaka Koreana could have made an impact on Korean language because of the religion and beliefs imbedded into it. Within it, lies Buddhist teachings which have become part of Korean culture in some ways which can definitely make an impact on the vernacular of the language, and the introduction of new words, new meanings, and concepts. Similar to English, the introduction of Christianity introduced new words that stemmed from Greek and Latin language and new ways in which words could be formed.

Today, although the use of Hanja in Korean language has dwindled, there are still concepts and ideas from Buddhism in cooperated in some ways within Korean society. Hanja itself is still taught within schools but it’s often difficult to maintain as it is not used on a day-to-day basis. And it is used mostly in ancient literature, legal documents and to shortened long sentences or phrases in some instances. Hanja however can be beneficial in the sense that there are quite a handful of Korean words that apparently come from Chinese roots. This can be beneficial when learning Korean vocabulary to become fluent in Korean, as 30-60% of Korean words have Chinese origin.

Because religion produces a new way of thinking, Korean society experienced a prosperous rise (in Korean culture life) from the introduction of Buddhism which led to its stature to be how it is today. This may be from laws treaties and scriptures from the Buddhist texts that were in cooperated into the culture and governmental aspects of Korean society which allowed the nation to grow and develop leading it to be what it is today. 

Currently, I am working on learning how to say what the weather is like and continuing to learn how to say the date and time for basic conversation (like being able to tell time, date, day of the week, and integrating that with how to tell what the weather is like in, using simple sentences). Next on my agenda is learning vocabulary for food items so if I am going out to eat at a Korean restaurant with my language partner, I will be able to order food and ask questions about items on the menu. I hope I will be able to accurately understand the format of how the sentences are formed and be able to purse that. Through learning Korean, I have been a little frustrated with memorizing the vocabulary and speaking it the proper way when pronouncing the words. I did find songs on Youtube for learning Korean have really helped me get a better grasp on memorizing which I will continue to use as it made me a more hopeful in my language journey. I think I should really use Korean music more often to learn vocabulary as it keeps me more engaged, and also, I can become more and more familiar with translating the words as I listen to the songs. And I also think that using Quizlet will be of great help to me as well which I will start doing now on forward, for vocabulary and phrases that I am still having difficulty with. A not-so-successful experience in my learning would be me not allotting enough time needed to Korean and having to spend more time on topics than initially planned for. Part of the reason for this was having to take some time off from class due to illness but also balancing work from other classes, but I will find a way to better manage time for homework. Something that I would like to do as a long-term goal is to focus more on understanding the basic format of Korean sentences for word order to preserve a sentence’s meaning and also learn conjunction words and use them properly in Korean so in the future, I will be able to make a sentence more complex and diverse. I think another goal I would like to accomplish is using what I’ve learned so far to have a short dialogue with my partner to see how far I am. I think in the beginning the strategies used were effective and they have helped me improve. But as I am learning more, I think by integrating quizlet, learning Korean songs, and managing my time better I will do even better.

Going back and looking at the video to see what I planned out my language journey of Korean has changed slightly. I have mostly been using the Oxford Picture Dictionary Second Edition (English/Korean) for my language journey as it contains lots of terms and vocabulary that has been beneficial to my progress. Some learning strategies that have been incorporated that I have found helpful is using music to learn the learn the language. I believe that learning vocabulary through songs helps me to better retain news word and their meaning. I think to improve my communication competence, I should listen to the Korean language more often and since I’ve learned a little more vocabulary, I can begin to learn rules of grammar to improve my grammatical competence. Building on sociolinguistic competence will be very important for Korean when using honorifics for those that are older or have high status.  I most definitely would like to learn how to navigate the language while having a limited vocabulary to improve my strategic competence.

Languages often become extinct when the speakers of that language no longer use it anymore or pass it on. This could be caused by a culture that slowly dies out because of natural disasters, invasion and the integration and influence of other languages which can change it to something new. Linguists can help preserve a language by making resources for the language available in the form of texts, sound recordings, promoting the language. A dead language can be studied but it may be hard to bring it back. It would have to be collectively agreed upon to be spoken. Efforts that are currently underway to document linguistic diversity include transcribing the language IPA and collecting texts that display the language.

Korean language in itself is in its own category and is its own family language. It was found that it may or may not have distant ties to the Altaic Language Family which consists of languages such as Turkish, and Mongolian, but historically although Chinese is a part of a different language family, there are some influences that it has made on the Korean language. Because Korean is in its own language family, I am unable to relate or connect it to other languages as much except for the fact that it is a character-based language when written like Chinese and Japanese. And possibly there are vocabulary words that may be similar between Korean and Chinese (Hanja).  Languages change over time because of culture, historical events, and more connection with the world and more interactions with cultures that have differing languages. Linguists track and predict the changes in languages change over time by recording and comparing how language has evolved from past to present. 

What I found of interest to me specifically about Korean Culture is the history, the music and food. I would say this would relate to the topic of language as these aspects of Korean culture as they are a reflection of each other and intertwine in many areas. The Korean Language itself has historical influence and development to it throughout history, and music itself is a form of language in its own way. The way sentences are formed and the types of words that may exist in Korean but not in another language can provide a new way to express emotion and communication, in a way that may be different from English. With the topic of food, building relationships and bonding over Korean food and traditional dishes can be a way to use the language and build vocabulary by learning new ingredients and new dishes. With these topics, I would need special vocabulary in order to discuss them in Korean Language. These topics (food) have been included in my learning plan so I will be able to engage with the topic soon.

The difference between sound and spelling is that sound is auditory while spelling is more visual and can be used to assist in figuring out the phones of a word for speech and pronunciation. Spelling is a visual representation of translating sound in which it can then be replicated. This concept is significant to my language learning efforts because it will allow me to better understand how Korean sounds and be able to connect the spoken language being written. The Phonetic inventory of Korean includes consonants and vowels, and like American English, it also has diphthongs. Some sounds that exist in Korean but not in American English include an l/r sounding consonant that has a specific sound like the requires a slight rolling of the tongue, which is called a trill. And other sound in the Korean language that's not really prevalent in American English is ue (oo-ee). There are diphthongs in Korean language too, so it is important that I am able to identify them and be able to spell them as well, when writing. I will be able to acquire the ability to discriminate segments in listening by relating how the word looks when written and relating that segment to the specific in memory. 

Currently in my journey of learning Korean, I am learning about the two different number systems used in Korean language which are the Sino Korean and native Korean number system. Native Korean numbers are used in situations like counting people, things, hours, age, etc. Sino-Korean numbers are used for time (minutes), days of the week, months, and years, etc. 

I hope to be able to efficiently apply the correct number systems within conversations. I would like to be able to state how old I am or someone else is, count items/people, tell time, learn the days of the week, and months/years. I hope to accomplish by the end of the week, the ability to state my age, the time/date in Korean.

Some strategies that my partner and I have worked on is that we would first review the numbers (sound and spelling) and then I practice and memorize them on my own. After I become more comfortable with the numbers, I would spell them out in hangul so I can fully grasp how the sound relates to the spelling. And then I would then be quizzed on random numbers. The book from global studies has really helped both me and my partner as it provided me a visual and showed me the different uses of the two number systems.

I think that this strategy has been effective as I have been progressing with memorizing the numbers. I think that now, using the numbers in conversation (forming sentences) and the correct situation would be a good challenge to really solidify the topic of numbers (time/date/age).

While learning Korean, I’ve experienced some moments of frustration due to the process being slow at times as it may take me some time to fully grasp the concept. I think most of it really has to do with focusing on not just memorizing but also relating the Korean word (the sound of the word) to a specific object, so it comes to me easily like my native language or other languages I know well.

This process of language learning, however, has been really enjoyable. I really like the motivation I receive from my language partner, and I love to see the small steps of progress I am making each meeting we have.

In order to combine different disciplinary perspectives to formulate a more holistic understanding of a given target language, one must first identify the concepts/parts that make up that language which include the use of phonetics, phonology, semantics, and grammar. It’s better to go over each category separately and then observe how each part works together. All parts of the different disciplinary perspectives are important, but I think it’s important to first understand the parts of phonology and phonetics to have the background knowledge to expand vocabulary and advance the language learning process. The knowledge of language structures and disciplinary methodologies give me a better idea of what area of language learning I need to start in. And as I continue learning about phonology and phonetics and I will change gears into semantics (meaning) which will help me understand why sentences are formed the way they are which in turn, could help me better retain the differences in word order and grammar when learning Korean.

The main ideas of Hofstede Dimensions include individualism-collectivism which is when people of culture represent and identify themselves to be self-sufficient, focusing on personal needs first then the needs of a group second, and also personal freedom, and self-reliance also represent this category. Collectivism, on the other hand, is the opposite where people group together for survival and view the group as their identity as they work together keeping harmony, and interdependence with the exception of ingroups and outgroups. Another aspect is a culture’s relationship and views with time Monochronic and Polychronic (how cultures view time).

The main ideas of Figuring Foreigners out are about the idea of external and internal forces.  Direct and Indirect Communication (how behaviors/actions are presented in different cultures in the form of communication) INDIRECT- IMPLY rather than say things directly DIRECT-more explicit in what they are trying to convey.

I do partially agree that I have seen some of these ideas being represented in different cultures in different ways. But I am also aware of the possibility that not everyone that’s a part of the same culture follows the same ideals or beliefs of that culture. And I didn’t find any statements, in particular, to be problematic.  

I think that much of American culture is based around individualism and monochronic because of how the government structure is set, the economy, and society (based and built on capitalist views and the ‘American Dream’). I think these ideas are important to research and learn more about for my target language because Korean culture may be very different in comparison. And by becoming more aware of these differences and more knowledgeable on the topic, I can avoid miscommunication that could occur and be able to build better relationships.

Now that I’ve had more meetings with my language partner, I learned through each of the meetings the importance of taking the language learning process slow, and not to rush it. As I would end up missing some valuable information that could help me be better off in the future with learning Korean, making the process a little bit easier and clearer. For the language plan, I have already started off with the basics (learning Hangul-Korean Alphabet). The reason is to ensure that I am able to spell words out in Korean and pronounce them correctly. And after I’ve passed that portion, I will begin learning vocabulary in my desired categories which are: Buying items/Shopping, Food/Restaurant/Grocery, Honorifics, School, Activities, Time/Date. For each category, after I’ve built my vocabulary (and feel comfortable with it), I will learn how to form basic sentences (using the vocabulary from each unit) to begin the conversating process with my partner. One day of the week I will be quizzed on my vocabulary and another day of the week I will watch a short video or listen to songs in Korean and through that I will get more familiar with the language. I have identified some textbooks that will be very helpful for my task-based objectives. Most of them are textbooks from global studios which are the Talk to Me in Korean Workbook (Level 1) and the Oxford Picture Dictionary Second Edition (English/Korean). What prompted my interest in learning Korean was Korean entertainment and that what followed was my interest in Korean music, the culture and the history that’s so different from the U.S. In the future I would love to be able to travel and spend some time in South Korea exploring historical sites, nature, shops and making new friends. Feedback that I received from Elspeth was that making friends was a good motivation that I have for wanting to learn Korean.

A question I had that came to mind from the readings was centered around the idea of localization. Although some areas of brain may have a specific correlated function, is it possible that all parts are connected in some way whereas to say that if one area of the brain becomes injured, it will affect in some way, the efficiency of other parts of the brain?  

I think language is partially a biological phenomenon in the sense that it took a series of events for it to come to be, in the sense of how different cultures and people have developed their own language with the use of sound or sign but also is innate.

The parts of the brain that are most important for the production and comprehension of speech are located in the left side (hemisphere) for most people in regard to language. Wernicke’s area (Posterior superior temporal lobe).

I personally seem to conceptualize and process meaning, by making references to describe something most of the time depending on what it is I am trying to describe. Meaning is the process of describing why or how something is the way that it is.

The first reading, “Brain language”, inspires me to use musical or emotional connection with the language I am learning in order to better retain what I learn while I am immersed in the language.

Ancient Hangul Metal Blocks (Yeonju metal blocks)

Small metal blocks were discovered in pots alongside other artifacts by the Sudo Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. These metal blocks were estimated to have been from the Joseon Dynasty (approximately 15th and 16th century) and totaled in 1,600 pieces.

What were these metal blocks you may ask?

Well, these metal blocks had been engraved with a written script on them. This written text is seemingly reminiscent of today’s hangul characters, alongside Chinese characters as well.

This is a very important discovery as it is a groundbreaking representation Korean written language that is still prevalently used today.

The time period in which these blocks were believed to be from was when King Sejong had reigned. King Sejong had made one of the most important historical changes that would advance Korean language and culture. This important change was the Korean phonetic system for written language.

Why was this change so important you may ask?

To answer this question, it is important to look to what previous system of written language was used during the Joseon dynasty and ones preceding even that.

Given the history of Korea, China had major influence in Korea as in the past, they had invaded and colonized the country (3^rd and 4^th century). And because of this, they introduced the writing system of Hanja, a tradition writing system that consists of Chinese Characters. Hanja would provide the ability for the Chinese to exchange, trade and communicate with Koreans.

However, Korea still had their own people as their rulers. And if not for King Sejong, the creator of the Hangul writing system, Hanja (Chinese characters) would still be used today.

Chinese Characters are known to be more difficult to learn given its complexity, but also the vast number of characters that exist which is just over 50,000. Even though 2,000-8,000 characters may be enough to be able to understand most written text, it can still prove to be a difficult task for many people. And it can be especially difficult and even virtually impossible to those who were poor, lacked resources (books), or not as privileged to receive the education necessary to be able to read and write.  

The hangul alphabet on the other hand which is what is used today, is much simpler and easier to learn and understand. Each of the symbols represent and reflect the shape of how a certain sound would look when using your mouth to produce that sound. This makes the alphabet purposely consistent with speech and is believed to be what King Sejong had in mind with its creation.

Now, everyone regardless of social or economic status would now have the ability to read and write, which would influence aspects of Korean culture, government, and society on forward.

The discovery of these Yeonju metal blocks that were found prove to be a reminder of the revolutionary and historic change that Hangul made to Korea’s future progression. And it shows how Korea’s writing language became what it is today.

Metal type blocks from King Sejong’s reign discovered (koreaherald.com)

Ancient hangul type among treasure trove of buried relics (joins.com)

My past experience with language learning has been positive for the most part. Spanish is one of the first languages that I gained interest in. I began my language learning journey with Spanish in elementary school and continued to become more advanced with the language from middle school to high school and college as well. Most of the experience I have when learning Spanish was based in a classroom setting. And each piece of information we learned would allude to what skills we would be need for the next unit or next piece of information we would learn. For example, when we learned conjugating verbs in Spanish it would go in the order of learning present tense, past tense, conditional, and future tense. And if a unit was based on health, we would learn basic vocabulary that would be associated with that unit, such as food (types of healthy/unhealthy, exercise, check-ups/doctor’s appointments, etc.

I enjoyed the feeling of being immersed into a new language. Learning the language of a culture I admire really helps me to feel more connected to that culture and its people. During the process of learning a new language I enjoyed the small little victories achievements I’ve made, which continue to bring me closer to actually being able to conversate with a native speaker or someone that spoke the language comfortably. I’ve come to realize that I like the process of being able to learn new vocabulary and form sentences through writing and speaking.

As a language learner however, I dislike the struggle I faced with differences in grammar between my native language and the language that I was learning (Spanish). Sometimes I would have difficulty memorizing some of the rules or it would take me a while to get used to the changes and differences. And while learning Spanish in college in comparison to learning it in high school, I feel a little left behind in the sense of differences of learning style I experienced and missing vocabulary.

In regard to the fire model and surveys that I took, they concluded that I am more of a visual learner, and secondly an auditory learner. With these given characteristics it was recommended that I color-code notes or draw pictures to associate a word or concept to help me in the learning process. I will definitely take these tips into consideration when I begin my language learning journey with Korean. In one of the surveys, it stated that one of learning styles is being music.  It went into detail to explain that using background music can help me while reviewing important information or memorizing important material when learning a new language. This is something I do on occasion but now I will definitely incorporate it more when I am learning Korean. Since music is something, I truly enjoy, I think analyzing Korean song lyrics in order to learn new vocabulary would be a good strategy to memorizing important vocabulary faster and more efficiently.

As of now, I’m learning about the different types of learning styles and what kind of learner I am. This will help me have a greater chance of succeeding in my language learning journey. During this research, I discovered that I am a visual and auditory learner with music being one of the best ways I learn and retain information.

There are so many things I wish to accomplish when learning Korean. But as a start, I hope to be able to read Hangul and be able to pronounce Korean words more efficiently as my first small goal. In addition to the Korean alphabet (Hangul) I also want to learn the Korean number system and learn everyday greetings and phrases in order to have a simple conversation in Korean. I hope I can slowly build from that point into a more intermediate conversation within a year. Some strategies I could use is learning vocabulary from Korean music and learning how to analyze Korean songs. I would do this in order to improve my listening skills, in combination with watching Korean Dramas and selecting words that I do not know or recognize. Then I can look-up that word in order to find its meaning. Some resources I will use are books from the library, resources in the Carole Weinstein International Center, and resources posted on Ning, and my language partner. I will build on what I have learned by firstly making a list to visually see how much Korean I know and work with my language partner to figure out the best way to go from there (as I am knowledgeable with some phrases, some hangul characters, limited vocabulary, and the Sino-Korean number system).