This week, we learned and read about the history and origin of our target language. The Korean language is one that was created by King Sejong, designed for the common people. The written language, "Hangul" was said to have been created in 1443. Similar to most countries in the past, written language was accessible only to the wealthy and upper-class people, who could afford an education. Therefore, Hangul was revolutionary, because King Sejong designed it so that common folk could learn it, which explains why Hangul is a simple and easy language to learn in comparison to other languages.
I learned about King Sejong when I took a Korean history class a while back. Though I do not remember much from that class, this idea and the influence of King Sejong always stuck with me. Therefore, it was also interesting to learn and see the influences other languages had on the creation of this language. Linguists believe that the Korean language falls with the Altaic and Uralic family, with Japanese as a minor family. Since I was never exposed to Altaic and Uralic languages before, I find it difficult to see the relationship with Korean. However, with Japanese, I can see the influence.
There was a period in Korean history, where Japan took over Korea and enslaved the country. I remember being told by my grandparents that the Japanese at the time did not allow the Koreans to speak Korean, therefore for a long period of time, Koreans only spoke Japanese. However, once Korea regained their independence, they were allowed to speak Korean once again, but it was undeniable that this historical event played a major influence on the Korean language, Today, I notice that there are several Korean words that were originally Japanese words. So, looking at the Japanese language helps me understand where some of the words in Korean got their origin from. An example of this is the word promise. In Japanese, the word is pronounced, "yak-so-koo." In Korean, the word is pronounced, "yak-sok." The words are very similar in sound but differ very slightly.
Understanding the history behind a target language can help one understand and appreciate that language even further. By learning that King Sejong designed the Korean language for the common people, I felt more proud of the fact that I am able to speak such an empowering language. Also, by learning the historical events that occurred in that country, can help one understand how that language has changed over time and become more modernized. I believe that linguists predict the direction of the language by looking at the way minors and youth learn and modify the language. If we compare today's modern language to that of just our parents, we know that the language has changed drastically. With the influence of technology, the English language now has another component to it, a texting culture. Obtaining access to a mobile device has never been easier, with new plans trying to please customers with lower prices. Therefore, these influences have shaped the youth and created a new language culture for the English language.
Comments
I didn't know about the period in Korean history where people were only allowed to speak Japanese. Very Interesting that now there are some shared words and phrases.