Journal #2 - 105

[Abigail Sohkhlet]

Almost 2 million people speak Korean in China, mainly in provinces bordering North Korea. There are approximately half a million speakers in Japan and Russia, as well as significant numbers in the United States (over 600,000) with large communities on the west coast and in New York. Other communities are found in Singapore, Thailand, Guam, and Paraguay. The Korean language is one that stresses on respect and honor when it comes to age and status. Koreans use non-verbal language such as bowing as a sign of respect while things that are more affectionate (like kissing and hugging) are less common among people. In my opinion, it seems like a very humbling language. This is because when it comes to expressing things about oneself they do not use terms such as my country or my house or my mother, instead, they use the word ‘our’ to describe. In a way, it seems as if the usage of ‘our’ eliminates the self and discusses the collective. Maybe this reflects the collectivist mindset as opposed to the individualistic mindset.