110 Cultural Post #2

[Esther Kwon]

Like many Asian countries, Korea consists of a hierarchical format based on age, in which elders are given ultimate respect in terms of not only how they are treated but also how they are spoken to by those who are younger. In simple terms, when a younger person is talking to an elder, he or she must speak using “요” (“yo”) at the end of every sentence as an indication for politeness and formal speech. “존댓말” (formal speech) is not just addressed to those who are older in age but it is also used when talking to strangers, professors, and someone who is "higher in rank" job-wise. There are exceptions, however. For example, based on a family’s rules and culture, some children may speak with parents using “반말” (informal speech) if it is permitted. “반말” is essentially used between two people if they have a relatively close relationship, such as best friends, boyfriend and girlfriend, and etc. When an older person is speaking with a younger person, the older person is allowed to automatically speak in “반말” to the younger person while the younger person must speak in “존댓말” to the elder unless he or she is permitted to “lower his/her speech” to the informal style.