Let's Master the Korean Alphabet in 50 Minutes
6
Part 1
1.1 Research Background
There are approxi mately 6500 spoken languages used in the world, yet there are only a
few hundred known written languages. This means there are many languages that exist
without a writing system or have adopted another writing system into their language.
Language is the “House of Being”, and the writing system is the “house of language”;
without a writing system, language cannot fully function as the vehicle of c ulture.
1
For many centuries, Koreans did not have a writing system to accompany the spoken
language. Prior to the invention of the written Korean language in the 14
th
century, spoken
Korean language was transcribed into Chinese characters called “HyangChal.” Because it
was not very compatible with the Korean spoken language, only those with high social,
political and educational backgrounds could understand it. In 1443 Ki ng Sejong invented a
writing system called HunMinCengUm, meaning ‘correct pronunciation of letters for
teaching ordinary people’, which was in accordance with his noble aims for the written
language. HunMinCengUm is still used by Korean people and it is certainly the most
honored creation in Korean history. Korean people have even established October 9
th
, as
the Korean Alphabet day and observe it as a National holiday.
1
Sek Yen Kim-cho, T he Korean alphabet of 1446: E xpositions OPA, the Visibl e Spe ech Sounds Transl ati on wi th
Annotation Future Ap plic abilit y (S eoul, K orea: Asia C ulture P res s), 2002.
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