Currently reading this book titled 인터넷에서 가장 많이 틀리는 한국어. It talks about the common mistakes that even Koreans make – in writing/speaking etc. It’s a great book for us Korean learners and it’s interesting to compare the kinds of mistakes we make. Sometimes, there are some mistakes that I’ll never make, but they may still be confusing to native speakers. I attribute that to the different ways we learn Korean. We are more sensitive to the grammar and the importance of rules etc.
One of the most common mistakes we make is 몇 일. It should be 며칠 instead. For Korean, the writing system and the pronunciation is highly interdependent. We have to pronounce the way it is written (according to the rules). If we write it as 몇 일, it will be pronounced as [면닐] which is obviously WRONG.
The book gives an excellent explanation on some of the sound changes in Korean. Examples below adapted from the book.
- 옷이 예쁘다
- 옷 안에 있다
Why is the first one pronounced as [오시] while the 2nd one is pronounced as [오단] even though they are both followed by ㅇ? It has become intuitive to me, but after reading the book, I finally know the concrete explanation. It has nothing to do with the spacing, but rather that 이 in the first case is a particle, while 안 is a meaningful character (inside). This is why only the 2nd ㅅ will undergo sound changes while the first ㅅ is brought over as it is.
(As you can see, I’ve conveniently combined the book review together with my post! This is called being lazy) But this is my 3rd post of the day! So ironic. >,<
My current ♥
20 Comments
Aneta
21 March, 2011 at 11:34 PMGood to know more about Korean pronunciation! Honestly speaking, I’m very suspicious towards those learners of Korean that claim that Korean pronunciation is easy. I’d rather say that it’s really tricky ;>
By the way, I was stalking your blog and I have to say that it’s so much fun reading your posts! ^^
hangukdrama
22 March, 2011 at 10:06 AMyeah sometimes i cant stand it when people tell me they managed to learn how to pronounce every word in Korean within a few days. >.< the sound changes in Korean is so much more complex than that.
thanks for liking my blog! 😀 😀
mishmash
22 March, 2011 at 11:17 AMImma gonna buy that book now.
Korean sound changes is a pain in the posterior, but imagine how much stress english learners have too when it comes to English.
‘Read’ can be read in two different ways depending on the context.
hangukdrama
22 March, 2011 at 7:40 PMSometimes I think English has even more complex pronunciation rules and exceptions. I’m really glad my native languages are English and Chinese. Chinese is real difficult to learn as a foreign language >,<
mishmash
23 March, 2011 at 12:37 AMI think my chinese is at primary one level. 😛
Can’t blame me since I grew up in a non-speaking enviroment. I only really got regular exposure to it when i was 16-17.
Now I wish I had gone for Chinese classes if only because it would help me with Korean. XD
mishmash
23 March, 2011 at 12:38 AMNON-CHINESE speaking enviroment. haha
owbEe
22 March, 2011 at 1:35 PMIs that book written in Korean or English? I also like your blog Shanna. It’s really entertaining and informative. 😀
hangukdrama
22 March, 2011 at 7:39 PMThanks!! (: haven’t seen you around (the online world) for quite some time! how’ve u been? (: the book is written in korean!
owbEe
23 March, 2011 at 1:22 PMI’ve been sick for almost a month, but I’m okay now.
Oh, I see. I won’t understand it then. I might buy it when I already understand Korean. 😀
Jeannie
22 March, 2011 at 10:19 PMI’ve seen this! I think spelling is important too and of course spacing! When Koreans text message each other most of the time they use slang and no space at all. Made me confused at first~
Von
24 March, 2011 at 10:14 PMHello! May I know where you got that book? ^_^
hangukdrama
24 March, 2011 at 10:41 PMI bought that in Korea, i think it will be available online in gmarket ^^
Irene Low
29 March, 2011 at 8:56 PMHi Shanna
옷이 예쁘다 this is pronounced as 오시예쁘다 .
What about this 옷 안에 있다? Is the ㅅ pronounced out? ie pronounciation is same as written?
Please enlighten : )
Thanks
hangukdrama
29 March, 2011 at 9:08 PMit is pronounced as 오단….. i’ve written the explanation in the post ^^
Irene Low
30 March, 2011 at 7:02 PMThanks, Shanna.
Still find it difficult to learn about the sound change.
Do you have to memorise the rules? Just curious.
Please do a post on sound change and pronunciation rules…..
Appreciate that!
Thanks!
Vivian
27 May, 2012 at 6:51 PMHello ! I am a new reader, and I would like to ask if there is any bookstore in Singapore selling Korean storybooks?
hangukdrama
10 October, 2012 at 10:58 AMeeeeeks i must have missed your comment D: erm not that i know of right now
Elley
10 October, 2012 at 10:18 AMHi, wondering where you bought this in Korea?
hangukdrama
10 October, 2012 at 10:58 AMbought this in the yonsei bookstore in the campus!
Elley
11 October, 2012 at 9:39 AMawwww, i see…. Thought of getting 1 when I’m in Korea… 🙁