Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jajdude]

I thought this was a good explanation from a book written in 2000. A lot of it may be obvious.

"Korea is still a remarkably homogenous society, and Koreans are aware that their common language is the major component of the glue that binds them together and sets them apart from others. It is thus something that they tend, consciously or unconsciously, to guard from outsiders."

(That "guard from outsiders" is interesting. If you speak Korean well are they embarrassed somehow?)

"Korean is considered one of the most difficult languages in the world for a westerner to learn. In terms of phonetics, the Korean language is very rich in both basic vowels and dipthongs that do not exist in any western language. Furthermore, the consonants come in three classes that are clearly distinguishable to the native ear, but nearly identical to the foreign one. Despite the recent influx of native words, the vocabulary of Korean is entirely different from that of European languages, and in the absence of parallels and analogies, it naturally requires considerable effort to build up a basic vocabulary. Korean grammar is also built upon structural and cultural principles entirely different from those of Indo-European languages, and there is no denying that learning how to employ its particularities requires a serious commitment to a long period of consistent and hard intellectual work. On the positive side, the major difficulties in learning other European languages, such as grammatical gender and complicated declension systems that have little or no semantic value, are absent in Korean, and even the few irregular verbs fall into definable sub-categories."

(I still need to look up the word "declension" but it sounds right)

"Apart from these inherent difficulties with phonetics, vocabulary, and grammar, there is another considerable difficulty to be faced when attempting to learn Korean: social and psychological factors can make it quite difficult to get necessary conversational practice. Koreans do not expect foreigners in their country to even attempt to learn their language. The simple fact of the matter is that it is extremely rare for a Westerner to learn Korean, and so the vast majority of Koreans have never once in their lives had the experience of speaking Korean with a foreigner. While some Koreans are flattered by the interest that is thus shown in their culture, most are clearly initially confused by and uncomfortable with the experience. Most Koreans wish to learn English, and those who can speak it will often insist upon doing so. It is thus quite difficult for foreigners to immerse themselves in Korean even while living in Korea."

(Well, not sure I agree with it all, but I thought it was a good explanation.)

[stumptown]

That sums up my experience of speaking Korean to Koreans. I generally have to repeat what I'm saying several times before they understand, but let's have the all seeing eye give his input here.

Mith? Any insight? (I just copied the "all seeing eye" from a line in National Treasure, no insult intended)

[Qinella]

The writer is correct about the consonants that sound similar to a foreign ear. I can't for the life of me hear the difference between some of them.

As far as Koreans reacting negatively to foreigners speaking, though, I haven't experienced that. It's been my experience that a lot of (older) Koreans will get upset at me if when I don't understand them. It is true that I often must repeat what I say, and it's not always because of pronunciation, since I will repeat the exact word identically. I think that has a lot to do with context, since many words have multiple definitions.

[gang ah jee]

that's why learning it's sooooo sweet!

[little mixed girl]

you could write similar stuff about english..

which witch is which?
etc.

how would you say:
"i think that he thinks that i think that he's stupid" in korean?

most koreans were happy i knew some korean...until i busted out in 'takeshima neun ilbon e ddang'...i dunno why tho...

[funplanet]

I may not be "fluent" in Korean but I speak it pretty darn well and have been told by educated K's that my accent is right on, but then....

I believe some K's simply don't want to believe that us furreners can speak their God-given language...

example...I use to live in blah blah "il-danji." The taxi drivers always heard me saying, so they say, "yook-danji." our conversation always went like this....

me: Jung-dong il-danji, ka-ju se yo."
driver: yook-danji?"
me: ah ni, il-danji.
driver: yook-danji?
me:aissshh...il-danji

and so on....

there is a slight difference between "il" and "yook"......

[Gwangjuboy]

[bucheon bum]

[komtengi]

I dont know why everyone says Korean is hard...

[eamo]

I've noticed some Koreans assume they will have communication difficulties with a foreigner. Doesn't matter if you're speaking Korean or English.

It's like a self-fulfilling prophecy thing. 'This guy is foreign so I won't understand what he's saying to me'.

I checked with Korean teachers many times on how to pronounce my address in Korean. After awhile they would tell me I had got it near enough perfect. Yet taxi driver's still need at least 3 repeats. The most miniscule mis-pronunciation throws them completely.

[joe_doufu]

I think we English speakers have sort of an unusually great amount of experience hearing our language spoken poorly. Adult North Americans have heard English spoken by learners of many different ability levels accented by many different native tongues. Koreans, on the other hand, may never have heard Korean spoken by anyone other than a completely fluent native speaker. Perhaps English-speakers have developed the ability to work out meaning from poorly-formed language, much better than Koreans have.

[xtchr]

jajdude; What's the name, and who's the author, of the book?

[d503]

also jajadude declension happens in lots of languages, it is when the nouns (I think you also use it for verbs) change with the part of speech, number, gender, etc.

[chiaa]

I have to agree with that writer. Koreans do not react negatively in the way you are thinking as in why is this idiot trying to speak my language. They really are dumbfounded by the fact and do not know how to cope with the situation. I can say give me a bag perfectly in Korean (it's pretty simple) and the cashier just looks at me like I have five holes in my head.

I have heard numerous stories of people being fluent in Korean and many times being mistaken for a Korean on the phone, but then having problems talking with a Korean face to face.

[jajdude]