Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Omkara]

Maybe there's something I'm missing here.

I have noticed a lot of non-Spanish Westerners spelling "Korea" with a "C." "K" is the standard spelling, and the "C" can only add ambiguity.

We standardize spelling for many good reasons.

I do know that some communists (Kommunists?) spell it "Corea" for subversive purposes, but is there another GOOD reason to choose the alternate spelling?

Enlighten me.

[Jandar]

Formal subversive spelling.

Corea and Amerika.

Choi Keu Be Ra

[Ya-ta Boy]

Rather than debate for the umpteenth time why some people spell Korea Corea, it might be more fruitful to get a debate going on the presence or absence of the letter 'u' in words like colo(u)r--like here at Dave's. Along the same lines, how foolish is it to spell jail gaol? These vital issues have not received the full attention that they deserve.

[slim dusty]

I'd much prefer it spelt the way which accords to the standard romanization. Goryeo.

[Omkara]

The color/colour is simply owing to a standardization of American spelling. Wasn't it Webster who was the primary force in that?

There was a time when American English wanted to "K" every /k/, as in "Kanada." Whitman even spelled Canada that way. But if people just, in our time, began to spell it with a "K," we'd have good reason to ask the reason why. Are there historical factors at work? Movements asserting identity?

But I do not see why there is a reason to spell it "Corea." Nor have I read former debates on this.

I just want to see if there is any pattern which is greater than arbitrary personal preference fueling this pattern. I'd really like to be educated on this point. Do some people just think that the "C" is prettier? Or is there a larger issue, having to do with maps, etc.?

[Juregen]

In the latin language a C in the beginning of the word is pronounced as a [k].

[Omkara]

[Toon Army]

wasnt the rumor something about the Japanese wanting to come before the Koreans in the alphabet hence the change from C to K supposedly....or that`s the popular rumor.

I think the old European seafaring maps had Korea down as "Corea".

[Omkara]

I see the point about Ko-ryo.

Apparently, this whole "C" thing has some linking to Korean resentment of Japan? At least in the popular consciousness?

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Omkara]

No, I haven't read them. A bit lazy. Mostly, I started this thread at a moment of bored peevishness.

I have a host of pet peeves: Konglish T-Shirts, arbitrary English phrases and punctuation, etc. This was just an extension of that.

Sometimes, the peeve leads to an interesting question. But, had I just used the search engine, that'd not have satisfied my boredom.

So, there you have it. I'd guess you were bored, too. I mean, you didn't skip the thread over.

Still, I am interested if anyone has something interesting to post on the subject. Maybe someone has something new to add.

[Smee]

Some old maps read "Corea" because they were made by Europeans, however you'll find that Koreans were ambivalent in the way they spelled their country in English in the early years. Some believe Japan changed the spelling to K, but that's ridiculous, and you'll find stamps and other materials from pre-occupation with the "K" spelling. It's been well-debated and debunked, so run a google search or a search here to read the arguments.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Omkara]

[Omkara]