Blogs

To continue my run of Hindi films, I recently watched a movie called Siddharth, which was about a 12-year-old boy from a poor family, who disappeared after being sent off to a factory to work. The film ended up being very tragic, as Siddharth's family was never able to find him, despite their constant searching. Their search was made endlessly more difficult because Siddharth's parents had never taken a picture of him (or any of their children). Every time they went to the authorities for help, officers would ask for a picture, and , having none, the parents would describe their son. Sadly, each of these scenes ended with the officer saying "you've just described every 12-year-old boy." 

I noticed two themes in the film: the difficulties and exploitation of India's poor, and the pressing need for Indians to adapt to changing technologies. The first theme was also prevalent in Water, although that film was set much earlier, and since the philosophies of many of the characters were linked to the rise of Gandhi's movement. In Siddharth, the difficulties of life in lower classes drive the characters to their limits. Siddharth's family sends him away to make ends meet with his added salary, even though they are aware that child labor is illegal. When they first go to the police, a female officer uses an informal address for the father (showing that class relations in this case will trump gender) and tells him that he should have sent his son to school, as the education, room, and board are free. The father seems unaware of this, showing that lower classes must face a lack of information as well as a lack of means to attain certain ends.

While the family's class made it incredibly difficult to look for Siddharth, the parents' lack of technological savviness was what guaranteed that they would not find their son. The father owned a phone, but did not know that he could take pictures with it, and only used it for calls. Every time the parents needed to use the phone, they would consult their daughter, who looked to be between 4 and 6. She and the neighborhood boys always knew what to do with the phone, but the parents' difficulties were a definite disadvantage. It was evident that the father was not as knowledgeable as he needed to be (literally with the phone, and perhaps symbolically with his search for his son), and this led to the failure of his search. 

Little was said of technology's role among members of higher classes, but in the encounters with people from higher rungs of the social ladder, their success seemed to go hand in hand with their ability to use their phones to further their interests. 

The history of Hindi is long and interesting. Hindi is one of the original Indo-European languages, so understanding how words in Hindi originated from languages such as German and Spanish is very interesting. Words like narangi, which means Orange in Hindi, is close to the pronunciation in Spanish of anaranjado. These similarities create a very interesting bond between speakers of different languages, and because I know some Spanish, this could make it somewhat easier for me to learn Hindi. The connection between old languages can be found in vocabulary all over the place and this really interests me because these languages have been passed down for generations and there are changes to every language. 

This article said that speaking two languages rather than just one has obvious practical benefits in an increasingly globalized world. The bilingual experience improves the brain’s executive function. When bilingual brains evaluate language, control and storage networks of both languages are active and available in brain. Their brain needs to evaluate and determine not only the meaning of words, but also the patterns of sentence structure and grammar of different languages. Usually this process will train people to think simultaneously. 

I've started watching films in Hindi to get a better sense of the spoken language, and this morning I came across a film called "Water." The film told the story of a nine-year-old widow, who was forced to live with a group of widows in a sort of convent. The group was essentially untouchable to the rest of society, begging on the streets, without hope of leaving (until they discover halfway through the film that a law has just been passed encouraging remarriage) and prohibited from coming in contact with certain others. Juxtaposed with this group is a wealthy young lawyer who falls in love with one of the widows. She has been forced into prostitution (which he doesn't know), and when others come in contact with her, they wash themselves, feeling contaminated by her presence. The two fall in love and grow attached to the nine-year-old, and while things take a dramatic turn for the worse by the end of the film, a great deal is said about relationships between members of different classes and genders. 

The plot is notably dramatic, almost a caricature of a Hindi film, but the relationships seemed nuanced in ways that English subtitles could not accurately capture. For instance, when the nine-year-old widow, Chariya, first meets Naryan, the lawyer, he uses the informal address (tum) when he speaks to her. Chariya's age and class would suggest that she should use the formal means of address (aap), but she uses tum when she responds. This shows both her naivete, and potentially foreshadows the intimate friendship that develops between the two. Further, When Naryan meets Kilyani, the widow he falls in love with, the two use aap to address each other, even though young Chariya is using tum with both. That Naryan should even be speaking to the two widows goes completely against social mores of the time, but as the director was Canadian, and set the film during the rise of Gandhi's movement, the theme seems to be that things are slowly changing, and that Naryan is realizing the absurdity of the class system. 

Even though Naryan holds progressive views during the film, his higher status is evident. Men and members of the upper-class are the only ones who use English phrases (Naryan even quotes Shakespeare)--and Kilyani cannot even read, speaking only Hindi with the other widows. Thus, English was infiltrating upper-class parlance at the time of the film's setting, showing that it was an elite privilege, but suggesting that it may also spread to other groups. 

Korean language is attested from the early centuries of Chinese script, and the hangul script is started in the Middle Korean period, in the 15^th century. The periodization of the historical stages of Korean is proto-Korean, old Korean, middle Korean and modern Korean. Before 1446, Koreans had no writing system of their own, so the educated elite wrote in hanja(classical Chinese characters). However, Chinese character was poorly suited to the languages with complex grammars like Korean. In fact, most people did not have finance and resource to study, which cause the gap of knowledge between the rich and the poor. After inventing Hangul, it is easy for everyone to study, so their own culture can develop. 

Korean culture is very famous around China nowadays, and the young like watching Korean drama and pursuing Korean fashion. South Korea is a very vibrant destination for a tour, and it is full of beautiful historical and artistic attraction. Because of the vacation to South Korea this summer, I have motivation to learn every useful vocabularies and sentences for helping me to have simple communication with the local. So far, I found that Korean is kind of similar to Chinese in structure, politeness rules, and some borrowed vocabularies.

So far, I worked well with my study partner, we have already learned several topics, which cover the following topics, greeting/self-introduction, family members, food, how to order things, hobbies, interests, numbers, dates, birthday. (I attach the details at the end of this paper)

To truly understand Korean is the efficient way to explore the culture that surrounds it. Korean has a fascinating culture with K-pop and dramas, and the biggest competitive gaming scene. Korean also has a rich cultural history back thousands years for me to explore. Korean has a really strong sense about speaking to different level. Through research online, there are seven verb paradigms or speech levels in Korean, and each level has its own unique set of verb ending, which is used to indicate the level of formality of a situation. In Korean, honorifics are used to show respect toward somebody, and speech level is used to show respect towards a speaker’s or writer’s audience, or reflect formality or informality of the situation. There are three kinds of level in Korean, which are higher level, middle level and lower level. The common style of speaking is higher level(formality). Usually this conversation is used between strangers at the start of a conversation, or among male co-workers, by TV announcers, to customers and some fixed expressions, such as “nice to meet you.” The middle level of Korean speech style is used when there is uncertainty and conflict about the social status of one or both participants in this conversation. It represents politeness for the participant in the conversation. Lower level are used frequently in conversation, when people talk to close friends or relatives of similar age, and adults to children.

Korean alphabet is known as Hangul. It has 24 consonant and vowel letter to compose Korean character. For someone new to Asian culture, it may look like Chinese writing system. However, the Korean writing system is literally a phonetic system(just like English) with simple letters to represent each of its various phonemes or sound. Korean can be written in vertical columns running from top to bottom and right to left, or in horizontal line running from left to right. I have studied the Korean writing system by myself in this website. www.howtostudykorean.com. I also used the Korean alphabet chart to memorize each pronunciation of each character.

My cultural project is going to talk about Korean cuisine. Korean cuisine is largely based upon rice, vegetables and meats. In addition, traditional Korean meals are noted for the number of side dishes (banchan), and Kimchi is served always in every family. How the Korean cuisine evolved through centuries of social and political change, what process of making Kimchi is, and why Korean get used to eating Kimchi as daily dish. Korean beverage is also really interesting, because all Korean traditional nonalcoholic beverages are considered as “eumcheong”, which means “clear beverages.” Besides nonalcoholic beverage, soju is the best-known liquor. I am really looking forward to exploring my cultural project, because Korean food is my favorite.

1. Greetings/Self-Introduction

Vocabulary:

yo in the end - polite form

annyonghasaeyo - hello

pangapsepnida - nice to meet you

je/jo - I

Gujjok - You

muoya - what is it

yirum - name

Ottoke - how to do when you are confused

jineshutoyo - asking for well being

jungguk - China

Miguk - America

Hanguk - Korea

aeseo - from

watseoyo - came

haksang - student

jungong - major

yonghua - movie

gua - and

dokseo - reading

yori - cooking

gaseyo - please go

Greeting: annyonghasaeyo (hello) pangapsepnida (nice to meet you). je (my) yirumun (name is) _____ yipnida. Gujjogun (your) yiremi (name) muoyeyo (what is)? Ottoke (how have) jineshutoyo (are you doing?)

Self-Introduction: je (my) yirumun (name is) _____ yipnida. Jonun (I am) semusal (20 years old) yipnida (is/are). Jonun (I am) jungguk (China) eseo (from) watseoyo (came). Jonun haksang (student) ipnida (is). Je jungongun (major is) buziniss (business) ipnida (is).

Je chimi (hobby) nun (is) dokseo (reading) yipnida.

Je chimi nun yonghua (movie) bogi (watching) yipnida.

Je chimi nun shopping gua (and) yori (cooking) yipnida.

Questions:

Yirumyi muoyeyo? (what is your name?)

Chimiga muoyeyo? (what is your hobby?)

Odieso *where* watsoyo? (Where are you from?)

Haksang yiyeyo? (Are you a student?)

End:

Annyonghi gaseyo (good bye)

Date: Feb 11th, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m. -

1. Family
2. how to introduce family members, and ask others their family members. I will learn vocabularies of sister, brother, parents, grandparents, cousin, aunt, and uncle.

Vocabulary:

gajok - family

umma - mother

omoni - mother (formal)

appa - father

abeoji - father (formal)

halmoni - grandma

halabeoji - grandpa

chin halmoni/halabeoji - dad side grandma/grandpa

wae halmoni/halabeoji - mom side grandma/grandpa

samchon - uncle

imo - aunt

dongsang - younger ones

unni - older sister

yeo dongsang - younger sister

nam dongsang - younger brother

yeoja - female

namja - male

oppa - older brother

sonbae - someone who is older and goes to the same school

hubae - someone who is younger and goes to the same school

sogae - introduce

gurigo - and

yitseo - have

maknae - the youngest one

dae hak yo - university

Introducing

anyonghasaeyo, je (my) gajokul (family) sogae (introduce) hagetsupnida (will do). Jonun oppa, unni, umma, appa, halmoni, halabeoji gurigo (and) samchon yitseoyo (have). Jega (I) maknae yipnida (am). Jonun Richmond dae hak yo (university) ae (from) Cecilia hubaega yitseoyo.

Question:

Q: _______ yitseoyo? - yo should have a high pitch

A: nae (yes)/aniyo (no), _____ yitseoyo.

1. Food, how to order things
2. I will learn vocabularies of basic vegetables, fruit, dishes, and snacks. I will learn how to order food in the restaurant, what I like to eat, ask what others like to eat, and ask about whether they like their meals.

Vocabulary:

Food name:

bab - meal

gogi - meat

bulgogi - fire meat (popular Korean marinated beef meat)

samgyupsal - pork & soju - Korean vodka 20%

dak gogi - chicken meat & makju - beer

yang nyum chicken - marinated chicken

  nalgae - chicken wings

steake - steak

sam gye tang - chicken soup

sogogi tang - beef soup

guail - fruit

       sagua - apple

       subak - watermelon

       bae - pear

banana - banana

       olangee - orange

       kiwi - kiwi

       boksungah - peach

       podo - grape

jusee - juice

waple - waffle

bbang - bread

ice klim - ice cream

ssal - rice

kimchi - kimchi

gye lan - egg

copee - coffee

hae mul - seafood

       sae wu - shrimp

       su shi - sushi

lobsta - lobster

kim - seaweed

huae - sashimi

ddok - rice cake

guk - soup

dubu tang - toufu soup

guaja - snacks

yachae - vegetables

       to ma to - tomato

gamja - potato

japchae - glass noodles with fried vegitables

guaja - chips

lamyun - instant noodle

bibimbab - hot pot mixed vegi with rice

achim - breakfast

jumsim - lunch

jeo nyuk - dinner

Dialogue at a restaurant

A: oseo osaeyo (welcome=quickly come), yogi anjesaeyo (please sit)

B: nae

A: mu et sul (what) jumun (order) hasigetseoyo (would you like to)?

B: jamsimanyo (please wait)

A: nae

B: jeogiyo/unni/imo (hey, excuse me), jumun (order) halgaeyo (I will do). Bulgogi, bibimbab, samgyetang, yangnyum chicken gurigo makju jusaeyo (please give).

A: minjeng (ID) boyeo (show) jusaeyo (please give).

B: yeogiyo (here it is)

A: nae, gamsahapnida.

B: unni, banchan (side dish) duh (more) jusaeyo (please give)

A: algaetsupnida (okay)

A: ulmayaeyo (how much is it?)

B: sam man won (30,000 Korean currency) yipnida. Gamsahapnida, daum (next) ae ddo (again) osaeyo (come)

A: nae~

1. Hobbies, interests
2. I will learn how to tell others my hobbies, and ask what others hobbies are. I will learn at least ten words on different hobbies.

Vocabulary:

chimi - hobby

jowayo - like

an jowayo - don’t like it that much

xiloyo - don’t like

an xiloyo - I not not like it

nae/aniyo - yes/no

ge nyang ge le yo - it’s whatever

jal hatseoyo - good job

tul lutseoyo - wrong

mult gae - how many

yit da - there are

hada - do

hago sipda - I want to do

an hago sipda - I don’t want to do

jjikda - take (photo)

dokseo - reading

su yong - swimming

yeo hang - travel

yong hua - movie

emak - music

sho ping - shopping

dduida - running

yo li - cooking

com pu ta game - computer game

sa jin - photo

What hobbies do you have? chimiga moyeyo? chimi mult gae yitseoyo? (how many hobbies do you have)

Do you like to ____? yeohang jowa haeyo?

I like doing _____. nae, yeohang jowa haeyo. sa jin jjik nungirl jowa haeyo.

I don’t like doing _____. aniyo, xilo haeyo.

1. Numbers, colors, dates, birthday
2. Learn how count from 1 to 100, tell others my phone numbers and ask their numbers. I will learn how to tell the date and day of the week, as well as months, seasons.  
3. I will learn how to say when is my birthday, and ask others when is their birthday.

Vocabulary:

Korean Traditional Numbers (age, counting objects)

Sino-numbers (dates, money, minutes, addresses, phone numbers)

1 - hana        il

2 - dul                  e

3 - sat                  sam

4 - net                  sa

5 - da-sut            o

6 - yeo-sut          yuk

7 - yil-gop            qil

8 - yeo dul           pal

9 - a-hop             gu

10 - yul         sip

100 -                   bak

1000 -                  chun

Dates:

Monday -            Wol yoil

Tuesday -           Hwa yoil

Wednesday -             Su yoil

Thursday -          Mok yoil

Friday -               Kem yoil

Saturday -          To yoil

Sunday -             il yoil

day - il

January -            ilol

February -          ewol

March -               samol

April -                  saol

May -                  owol

June -                 uwol

July -                   chilol

August -             palol

September -               guwol

October -            siwol

November -         sip yilol

December -         sip ewol

Year -                 nyun

Born -                 Sang

If I want to say I was born in 92, then I would say gusip yi nyun sang

Sun - June 27th 1992 - uwol, yisip qil il, chun gubak gusip yi nyun

Melody - December 13th 1993 - sip ewol, sip sam il, chun gubak gusip sam nyun

Yuki - February 3rd 1994 - ewol sam il, chun gubak gusip sa nyun

Cecilia - October 10th 1995 - siwol sip il, chun gubak gusip o nyun

When were you born - Myut nyun sang yiyeyo?

What day is it today - onul musun nal yiyeyo?

New Vocabularies:

Today - onul

Tomorrow - nae il

Yesterday - uh jae

The day before yesterday - ut geje

The day after tomorrow - mo le

4 Season - sa gyejul

Spring - bom

Summer - Yeo rum

Autumn - ga ul

Winter - gyo ool

Time - si gan

Clock - shi gae

How old - myutsal

How many - myut gae

More words:

na - me

nuh - you

ya - dude, you (friends)

na rang - with me

nuh rang - with you

halle - want to do (informal way); halleyo (polite way)

nolle - want to hang out (informal way); nolleyo (polite way)

nolda - play/hang out

nolja - let’s hang out

bappa - busy (informal way) bappayo (polite way)

Useful phrases:

What are you doing - mohae yo?

I’m busy - jeonun bappayo/na bappa (to friends)

Do you have time - Sigan it seoyo?

Tomorrow I have time - naeil sigan it seoyo.

Want to be my date today? - onul narang (with me) date halleyo (want to do?)?

Wanna play today? - onul narang nolle?

dude let’s hang out - ya nolja

Having gone to international schools for the majority of grade school, I knew about some of the cultural practices of Korea and India and Pakistan (there were many Koreans in my high school, and aside from the similarities of cultures in the Indian sub-continent, I have also had many Indian and Pakistani friends and classmates.) However, I learned many details of these cultures that I did not know - for example, the settings where traditional clothes are used in Pakistan and the names of the clothing (though I was familiar with what they look like.) Likewise, though there were some things about the Korean culture I knew, I learned many new details. For example, I knew Koreans would often go to bath-houses, but knew little of the whole process they would go through while at the bath-house (soaking, scrubbing, sauna etc.)
However, I knew little about the history of the Philippines aside from some general things such as their being under the Spanish and then the US rule. For example. I found it quite fascinating how many similarities/borrowings from Spanish there were in the language - I was even able to figure out what some of the words and phrases meant before being told, despite the difference in spelling (I know some Spanish.)

Urdu (like many languages) follows a different system of sentence structuring than English. I have an advantage in that some of the sentence structure in Nepali is similar to that of Urdu, so there are some structures I will not have to learn, but only transfer over. However, there are some types of sentences that follow different structures. An example of this would be how one says "You took the book from me". A direct translation into English of the Urdu would go: "you the book from me took", while Nepali would go: "the book you from me took." I have been learning where I cannot use the same Nepali structures in Urdu when talking in Urdu to my language partner and Pakistani friends. However, because there are many similarities in the two languages' structures, I have not felt the need for any sort of formal methodological learning exercises, though I do make note of and write down the differences I find.

Common phrases for greetings, farewells and introductions. Artifact%201%20-%20Pravaas.mp3

Since the beginning of this semester, I have already learned hundreds words covered various topics, such as greeting, numbers, month, colors, food and so on. During the meeting with learning partner, we usually studied vocabularies firstly, and then we use these vocabularies to compose sentences. Not only studying Korean from my learning partner, but I will use some online sources(Mongo) in order to repeat listening the pronunciation of each vocabularies and the tone of sentences. The most difficult part of learning Korean for me is pronouncing accurately. The way to enhance oral Korean for me is listening Korean vocal news. So far the realistic goal for me is acquiring more and more vocabularies and pronouncing each word correctly, and I hope that I could go on learning Korean drama and writing in next semester. 

Language is the storehouse of knowledge, and it allows us to search for the truth. Every human language is the master tool representing its unique construct, which determines its limitations and its possibilities in expressing myth, emotion, ideas and logic. Therefore, language is considered as the medium with which the condition of the human soul is communicated. Especially for the spoken-only languages of indigenous peoples, this kind of language disappears faster than the written one. With the loss of each language, people also lose the evolution of its logic and its cultural myths and rituals. I have thought about the loss of languages or dialects in China. It seems to me, the loss of language means the reflective surface of local culture. What a tragic loss of such a great gift.