Wednesday, March 16, 2016

When it rains, it pours...

I know, I know, I'm not the most constant blogger :-D

So - now it's Korean.

I have my strategy to learn any language.

1) Learn the alphabet

Korean alphabet is pretty easy. Basically. Or, the basics are.

Omniglot; Korean alphabet

Some interesting information there:

Korean alphabet was invented 1444 and the shapes are based on the shape of the mouth when the sound is made.
Huh. I don't see the connection.

It was usd by the "uneducated people", like children and women.
Hmm...

But in the 18th and 20th century, the Hangeul system developed into what it is now, by mixing the "baby-writing" with the "civilised people's writing" (called Hanja), which was Chinese or based on Chinese writing, which is why there appear today some unusual letters in Korean writing today. There has been some ups and downs, and today an educated person knows some 2000 characters, and well-educated people know quite a lot more.

It was written vertically from right to left like Chinese, but is today mostly written horizontally from left to right like English. Some people are even trying to get the writing to change from syllables to letters, like English, but that is not getting much support.
I agree with that. The Korean writing is not difficult to write nor to understand, so why change it?

The shapes of the vowels are based on three elements: Man ㅣ, Earth ㅡ and Heaven •.

Basic letters and Korean word structure

I am gratefully using Amy's Hana Hana Hangul (Hangul step by step)

Also, Ryan Estrada's "Learn to read Korean in 15 minutes" is of great help :-)

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