Hangeul - Letters - Letter Design - Traditional Account

Traditional Account

See also: Origin of Hangul

The generally accepted account on the design of the letters is that the vowels are derived from various combinations of the following three components: ㆍ ㅡ ㅣ. Here, ㆍ symbolically stands for the (sun in) heaven, ㅡ stands for the (flat) earth, and ㅣ stands for an (upright) human. The original sequence of the Korean vowels, as stated in Hunminjeongeum, listed these three vowels first, followed by a various combinations. Thus, the original order for the vowels was: ㆍ ㅡ ㅣ ㅗ ㅏ ㅜ ㅓ ㅛ ㅑ ㅠ ㅕ. Note that two positive vowels (ㅗ ㅏ) including one ㆍ are followed by two negative vowels including one ㆍ, then by two positive vowels each including two of ㆍ, and then by two negative vowels each including two of ㆍ.

The same theory provides the most simple explanation of the shapes of the consonants as approximation of the shapes of the most representative organ needed to form that sound. The original order of the consonants in Hunmin Jeong-eum was: ㄱ ㅋ ㆁ ㄷ ㅌ ㄴ ㅂ ㅍ ㅁ ㅈ ㅊ ㅅ ㆆ ㅎ ㅇ ㄹ ㅿ.

ㄱ representing the "g" sound geometrically describes a tongue just before the moment of pronunciation as the tongue blocks the passage of air.

ㅋ representing the "k" sound is derived from ㄱ by adding another stroke.

ㆁ representing the "ŋ" sound may have been derived from ㅇ by addition of a stroke.

ㄷ representing the "d" sound is derived from ㄴ by addition of a stroke.

ㅌ representing the "t" sound is derived from ㄷ by adding another stroke.

ㄴ representing the "n" sound geometrically describes a tongue making contact with an upper palate just before making the "n" sound.

ㅂ representing the "b" sound is derived from ㅁ by adding strokes.

ㅍ representing the "p" sound is a variant of ㅂ, which is obtained by a 90 degree rotation and extension the horizontal strokes.

ㅁ representing the "m" sound geometrically describes a closed mouth before opening the lips.

ㅈ representing the "dʒ" sound is derived from the shape of ㅅ by adding strokes.

ㅊ representing the "ch" sound is derived from ㅈ by adding another stroke.

ㅅ representing the "s" sound geometrically describes a near contact between the tongue and the teeth.

ㆆ representing a weak "h" sound geometrically describes an open throat with a bar to indicate that there is an aspiration.

ㅎ representing the "h" sound is derived from ㆆ with the extra stroke representing a stronger flow of the aspiration.

ㅇ representing the absence of a consonant geometrically describes an open mouth, which necessarily accompanies the following vowel.

ㄹ representing a sound between "r" and "l" geometrically describes a backward-bending tongue.

ㅿ representing a weak "s" sound is also derived from the shape of the teeth, but has a different origin than ㅅ and is not derived from ㅅ by addition of a stroke.

Read more about this topic:  Hangeul, Letters, Letter Design

Famous quotes containing the words traditional and/or account:

    The traditional disputes of philosophers are, for the most part, as unwarranted as they are unfruitful.
    —A.J. (Alfred Jules)

    There is no permanent class of hired laborers amongst us. Twenty five years ago, I was a hired laborer. The hired laborer of yesterday, labors on his own account today; and will hire others to labor for him tomorrow. Advancement—improvement in condition—is the order of things in a society of equals.
    Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)