Hangul

Hangeul-basic

Hunmin jeong-eum

Songganggasa15-2

Hangeul letter order

Pronounciation ㄱ

Hangul (Korean: 한글) is the alphabet used for writing the Korean language. Created in the 15th century by Sejong the Great, the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty, Hangul was designed to be easy to learn and use, promoting literacy among the common people. Before its creation, Classical Chinese was used in Korea, which was difficult for the general populace to learn due to its complexity and the vast number of characters. Hangul originally consisted of 28 letters but now uses 24: 14 consonants and 10 vowels. Its design is scientifically based on phonetic principles, making it one of the most efficient and logical writing systems in the world.

History

The creation of Hangul was detailed in a document titled Hunminjeongeum, which means "The Proper Sounds for the Instruction of the People." Published in 1446, this document outlined the principles behind the alphabet and its intended use for the common people. Despite its innovative design and potential for increasing literacy, Hangul faced opposition from the yangban (aristocratic class) and scholars proficient in Classical Chinese, who saw it as a threat to their status and the traditional learning system. As a result, Hangul's use was suppressed, and it did not become widely adopted until the 19th and 20th centuries.

Structure

Hangul is composed of syllable blocks that consist of at least one consonant and one vowel. These blocks can be arranged horizontally or vertically, but the most common arrangement is left to right and top to bottom. Each block represents a syllable, and the letters within the block indicate the sounds that make up the syllable. The alphabet's design reflects the shape of the speaker's mouth when making the corresponding sounds, a feature unique to Hangul.

Consonants

There are 14 basic consonants in Hangul that represent distinct sounds. These consonants can be modified to create additional sounds, resulting in a total of 19 consonant sounds. The basic consonants are inspired by the shape of the human speech organs in the position they take when making the sounds.

Vowels

Hangul includes 10 basic vowels, which are composed of vertical or horizontal lines and dots representing the sky, the earth, and the human. These elements are combined in different ways to create the vowel sounds. The vowels can be used alone or in combination with other vowels to form diphthongs.

Modern Use

Today, Hangul is the sole official script of both South Korea and North Korea, although North Korea has made some modifications to its orthography. It is celebrated annually on Hangul Day, which is October 9 in South Korea and January 15 in North Korea. Hangul's simplicity and scientific design have been praised by linguists and language learners alike, contributing to its recognition as one of the most efficient writing systems in use.

Cultural Impact

Hangul is more than just an alphabet; it is a symbol of Korean identity and pride. Its creation is seen as a major achievement in Korean history, promoting literacy and education among the general populace. The script has also influenced Korean art, calligraphy, and design, with its unique shapes and structures serving as inspiration for various forms of artistic expression.