Learning Journal 6 – SDLAP 105

[Dominique Brown]

Learning a language’s history can help me to learn the language because through learning about the history, I can learn about what aspects in life are considered important to that society. For example, through the Korean hierarchical treatment of people, I can deduct that respect for one’s elders and those who hold a superior ranking to one’s own is considered very valuable. I can also deduct through the familial dynamics of Korean culture, that family life is very important. Gender roles are also very important as can be seen in the speech of both men and women. Males call their older brother ‘hyung’ while females call their older brother ‘oppa.’ The same can be seen when addressing an older sister. Males call her ‘noona’ while females call her ‘unnie.’ These differences are all reflections of Korea’s past history and are unique when considering the use of the word for brother and sister in English. There exists only one description for both, whether one’s sister or brother is older or younger. In this regard, I guess it can be accepted that hierarchical respect is not as pronounced among those living in English speaking countries as much as it is in Korea. The histories of these countries were very different.