Oh. M. Shevandronova
about some lexical differences in the modern Korean language of the DPRK and the Republic of Korea
Today, on the Korean Peninsula, we are seeing how different political regimes and attitudes can influence the development of spiritual and material culture of a formerly unified nation - a people with one history, culture and language. At the same time, the language, unlike literature, which can be an expression of the actual problems of society that concern the citizens of the country, already reflects an objective reality that is more or less obvious to every native speaker of a given language. In this regard, the South Korean version of the language is very interesting, namely the use of loanwords that came mainly from American English. The ways of linguistic perception of some everyday realities in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the DPRK are also different.
It can be assumed that due to the closed nature of the country and official purist attitudes towards their native language, North Koreans “rethink” unfamiliar phenomena and select suitable language variants from lexical units already at their disposal.
In this paper, we briefly turn to vocabulary, since it is the most mobile part of any language.
Due to the above reasons, today there are significant differences in the Korean vocabulary of the North and South. This is especially true of neologisms and terms. Due to the significant penetration of American culture into the daily life of the Republic of Korea, a large number of Americanisms come into use in the country, while in the DPRK, words borrowed directly from the Russian language or other languages through Russian prevail. This is especially evident from the different nominations of the same concepts2.
In South Korea, word-formation rules using Korean lexical units are quite successfully applied to borrowed words. So, for example, the root morpheme ^ /pan/ is widely used in the meaning of any room in word formation based on the basic structure in combination with root morphemes of native Korean or Chinese origin, as well as from other languages: /chekpan/ - a small bookstore; / noreban / - a room, similar to
zhe on karaoke; PC ^ /pisiban/ - computer games salon, Internet cafe; DVD ^ /dibidiban/ - salon where you can watch rented DVDs; ^ /khonsol-ban/ - a salon in which they play only computer consoles (English playstation), from English. ransole "control panel, keyboard"; /kharaokeban/ - kara-
an ocean bar where you can order a special service.
The names of these institutions are the result of the emergence of new phenomena for Korean culture3.
© O. M. Shevandronova, 2009
The concept of the DPRK ROK
Russia /Russia/ Russian RUSSIA &|L1 /rosia/ eng. RUSSIA
Meter / metho / eng. METER via Jap. /mitho/ eng. METER
Energy / energy / Russian. ENERGY /enoji/ eng. ENERGY
Interest S3 /pyro/ port. PROCENTO ^ /phosentha/ eng. PERCENT
Tractor /ttyraktors/ Russian. TRACTOR /thyrektho/ English. TRACTOR
Tank /ttankhy/ Russian. TANK /thenkhy/ eng. TANK
Asia / asea / whale. /asia/ eng. ASIA
Lacquer / rakhi-chhil / Russian. LAC ^^■Sh/rekkho-chil/ English LACQUER
Another reason for the formation of differences between the two variants of the language in spelling and sounding is the fact that in North Korea foreign words are borrowed, as a rule, by means of tracing* of foreign-language lexemes. As for South Korea, direct borrowings are widely practiced there, primarily from Western languages, especially English4. Let's compare, for example, the following lexical pairs of borrowings with the meaning "tunnel" and "ice-cream cake": ^ e /thonol/ (tunnel) - RK; 7<§£ /кэнъдо/ (букв. подземный ход) - КНДР; Я1°1
3 /aisy kheikhy/ (ice-cake) - RK, /oryn kvadzha/ (lit. ice sweets)
ti) - DPRK.
Also of interest is a number of specific South Korean borrowings from the English language, which, with some reservations, can be defined as quasi-borrowings. A very striking example is the concept of sealbothaun.
(English silver town), denoting a nursing home for fairly wealthy people. It is interesting to note that in the original language this concept does not have a similar literary meaning. For the Koreans themselves, the "nursing home" is a new phenomenon that has come into traditional culture along with other cultural and social
* Tracing - the construction of lexical units on the model of the corresponding words of a foreign language by accurately translating their significant parts or borrowing individual meanings of words.
values. This concept carries in its semantics two connotative meanings with elements of metaphor at once: silver color, as a symbol of gray hair, is both old age, and silver, i.e. expensive metal. Thus, the Koreans "borrowed" a term that reflects the new reality of modern Korean society, but is absent in this meaning in the borrowing language.
Unfortunately, at present there are great difficulties in obtaining the opportunity to get acquainted with North Korean colloquial speech, which inevitably entails difficulties in describing the vocabulary of the modern Korean language of the DPRK.
1 Kim G.N. Where did the Korean language come from and how did it develop. IIH: http://korea.nm.ru/korea/63/54.html
2 Skorbatyuk I. D. Derivation of names in the Korean language in the light of sociolinguistic events held in the DPRK // Languages of the Foreign East: Sat. Art. / Ed. N. A. Syromyatnikova. M., 1977. S. 144-151.
32^4^. DLD4, 2001.
5 Colloquial speech of native speakers.
Located in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, the DPRK is unofficially called. Like its southern neighbor, the official language of North Korea is Korean. It is distributed throughout the peninsula and has several dialects, roughly corresponding to geographic regions.
Some statistics and facts
- Most of the Korean dialects are named after the Eight Provinces.
- The official language of North Korea is Pyongyang Korean.
- In total, at least 78 million people speak Korean in the world. The most numerous diasporas outside the peninsula are concentrated in, and.
- Korean has an additional musical emphasis.
- A large number of borrowings from Chinese is another feature of the state language of the DPRK. It is also characterized by borrowings from Russian, while many English words are found in it.
Eight Korean provinces
This concept of the administrative structure of the Korean Peninsula does not in vain use a capital letter in the name. Korea was divided into eight provinces in the first third of the 15th century during the reign of the Joseon Dynasty. The borders remained unchanged until the end of the 19th century and determined not only the administrative division and regional differences, but also the territories of distribution of one or another dialect of the Korean language.
Some dialects are used in both Koreas, but even their various variants are understood by the inhabitants of both the northern and southern parts of the peninsula.
Features of Korean
For writing, the inhabitants of the DPRK use the phonetic signs "Hangul", developed back in the 15th century. In addition to "hangul" in South Korea, the Chinese characters "hancha" serve. In the 30s of the last century, at the initiative of the USSR, measures were taken to romanize Korean writing. As a result, the Latin alphabet was officially approved, but was never used in practice.
An interesting feature of the state language of North Korea is the different styles of speech, the use of which is regulated by the age of the interlocutors and their social status. A "politeness system" is achieved by using different verbal suffixes with the same root.
Note to the tourist
If you happen to be in North Korea, don't worry about comprehension problems. In any case, you will be assigned a guide-interpreter, without which you will not be able to travel with all your desire.
North Korea for many residents of Europe and, especially, the United States, is only a "socialist country" with all the ensuing consequences. For the majority of educated people, North Korea is a country with an ancient culture and traditions, which has a large number of attractions, unique nature, mountains, rivers with waterfalls, long beaches on the sea coast, as well as hot and mineral springs. North Korea is a mysterious country, which, by the way, is very safe for tourists.
Geography of North Korea
North Korea is located in East Asia in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea borders Russia to the northeast, China to the north, and South Korea to the south. In the east, North Korea is washed by the warm waters of the Sea of Japan, and in the west by the Yellow Sea. The total area of the country is 120,540 sq. km, including the islands, and the total length of the state border is 1,673 km.
About 80% of the territory of North Korea is occupied by mountains and hills. The plains are found mainly in the coastal regions of the country. The highest peak is Mt. Baekdu, which reaches a height of 2,744 meters.
For 790 kilometers, the Amnokkan River flows through the territory of North Korea, which separates the country from China.
Capital
The capital of North Korea is Pyongyang, which is now home to more than 4.2 million people. Korean legends claim that Pyongyang was built over 3,000 years ago, but historians believe that the city was actually founded at the beginning of our era.
Official language
The official language in North Korea is Korean, which belongs to the Altaic languages.
Religion
About 65% of the population of North Korea consider themselves atheists. Another 16% of North Koreans practice the so-called. Korean shamanism, about 5% are Buddhism, and about 1.7% are Christians.
Government of North Korea
The official name of North Korea is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. According to the current Constitution of 1972, the DPRK is a socialist republic. Its head is the President and Chairman of the Defense Committee.
Legislative power belongs to the unicameral parliament - the Supreme National Assembly (consists of 687 deputies). Deputies of the National Assembly appoint the Cabinet of Ministers.
Climate and weather
The climate in North Korea is temperate with four seasons. Summers (June-August) are warm, while winters (December-February) are cold with little snow.
Judging by weather conditions, the best months to visit North Korea are April and May in spring, June in summer, and September and October in autumn. But we recommend going in August-September, when the Arirang festival takes place in the DPRK.
In Pyongyang, the highest average air temperature is observed in July and August (+29C), and the lowest in January (-13C).
Sea in North Korea
In the east, North Korea is washed by the warm waters of the Sea of Japan, and in the west by the Yellow Sea. The total coastline is 2,495 km. In August, the water off the coast of North Korea warms up to +26C.
Rivers and lakes
Several large rivers flow through the territory of North Korea - Amnokkan (790 km), Tumangan (521 km) and Taedongan (397 km). Many rivers have amazingly beautiful waterfalls. The lakes in the DPRK are not very large, but very beautiful. Cheongji Crater Lake is located in the Paektu Mountains in the northeast of the country. For Koreans, the waters of this lake are considered sacred.
History of North Korea
As such, the history of North Korea begins in 1948, when the previously unified Korea was divided into two states - the DPRK and the Republic of Korea (South Korea).
In 1950-53, there was a war between the DPRK and South Korea, in which external forces (USA, UN, China and the USSR) took an active part. A peace treaty between these countries has not yet been signed, and their border is divided by the so-called. Demilitarized zone.
Only in 1991, North Korea was admitted to the UN.
culture
North Korean culture during the occupation of Korea by Japanese troops in the 20th century was almost eradicated. The Japanese tried to assimilate the Koreans, deprive them of their history, traditions, religion and language. However, forced assimilation made Koreans even more willing to preserve their cultural treasures.
In ancient times, religion (Buddhism and Confucianism) had a great influence on the life and traditions of Koreans. Even now, under the socialist system, the influence of Buddhism and Confucianism is very strong in North Korea. Most holidays and festivals in North Korea have religious roots. The most popular of them are the Buddha's Birthday and the Arirang festival.
We recommend that tourists visit North Korea during the Arirang festival, which begins in mid-August and lasts a whole month. You will have the opportunity not only to travel through the amazing North Korea, but also to see the Arirang festivities, which are not found in any other country in the world.
Kitchen
The cuisine of North Korea is based on ancient Korean culinary traditions. Of course, North Korean cuisine cannot be suspected of sophistication and luxury, but, nevertheless, despite its simplicity, it is very appetizing and tasty.
In addition, North Korean cuisine is healthier than, for example, American cuisine. In North Korea, the population is not obese, as, for example, in the United States, where 65% of Americans are overweight.
The staple food in North Korea is rice, which is used to make dozens of dishes. Rice is usually eaten with a variety of snacks (the most popular being kimchi, sauerkraut or pickled cabbage).
Traditional non-alcoholic drinks in the DPRK are rice and barley broth, as well as decoctions and infusions from various herbs and spices (from ginseng, cinnamon, ginger).
As for alcoholic beverages in the DPRK, ginseng vodka, rice wine, and soju rice liquor are popular there.
Landmarks of North Korea
In North Korea, there are now several thousand historical, architectural and archaeological sites. And many of them belong to the socialist era. Whether they should already be attributed to historical and architectural monuments is a moot point. Therefore, we will highlight only the ancient sights in the DPRK. The top ten attractions in North Korea, in our opinion, may include the following:
- Ruins of Anhakku Palace in Pyongyang
- Tomb of King Tangan
- Anak Tomb
- Fortress gate at Mount Nam
- Woljongsa temple near Nampo
- Mausoleum of Queen Kongmin in Kaesong
- Fort on Xiangsan mountain
- Yongbok Temple in Kaesong
- Pohyeongsa Buddhist Temple
- Machayon Buddhist Temple
Cities and resorts
The largest cities in North Korea are Chongjin, Heungnam, Chongjin, Hamhung, Sinuiju, Wonsan, Kaesong, and, of course, Pyongyang.
There are several beach resorts in North Korea, but foreign tourists are rare there due to the political situation. Most often, residents of China come to the DPRK. In the south of North Korea, in the mountains of Geumgangsan, there is a tourist region "Diamond Mountains", where many South Korean citizens have come in recent years.
The most famous beach resort in North Korea is Wonsan, located in the northeast of the country.
There are many hot and mineral springs in the DPRK, so it is not surprising that balneological resorts have been developing in this country in recent years. Among them, Vekymkan, located near the Sea of Japan, should be singled out. In general, according to official information, there are 124 hot springs in the DPRK.
There are balneological resorts with hot springs in the vicinity of Pyongyang itself (for example, the Kumgang hot springs). In addition, there are thermal and mineral springs in the Kuwolsan rock massif and in the Geumgangsan mountains.
Souvenirs/Shopping
The Korean language is traditionally considered to belong to and isolate a group. Nevertheless, it is spoken by almost eighty million people in the world.
Korean is spoken not only by Koreans living in North and South Korea, but also by those who live outside their historical homeland. The birth of the Korean language is attributed to the period of the existence of three kingdoms that were located on the territory of the Korean Peninsula: Baekje, Silla and Goguryeo. Moreover, there is every reason to believe that the language of the kingdom of Silla is the ancestor of the Korean language, and the language of Koguryeo is the ancestor of Japanese.
In the state of South Korea, the official language is the Seoul dialect. It carries (as, indeed, other dialects of Korean) many loanwords from American and Chinese. Dialects in both South and North Korea are distributed according to the provinces. So, there is a dialect of Chuncheon, Gangwon, Gyeongsan, Jeolla. The smallest province in South Korea is Jeju Island and almost the entire southwestern coast of the country speaks the Jeju dialect. Due to the status of the official state language, the Seoul dialect helps communication between representatives of different language groups in South Korea. Having common roots, all dialects have something in common with each other and have minor differences in spelling and pronunciation. The exception is the Jeju dialect, which cannot be understood by speakers of other language groups. This is a consequence of a certain isolation of Jeju from other population groups.
Since 2000, the South Korean government has officially approved the romanization of the Korean language (writing Korean words in Latin), which is designed to make life easier for tourists. However, the peculiarities of the local writing, which allow one to arbitrarily change the consonants in a word when writing it, easily turn "coffee" into "kopi", and "golf" into "goppy". Despite such confusion, a couple of phrases learned with the help of a phrase book will greatly facilitate the tourist's stay in South Korea. Although at first glance, Korean writing seems complicated, it is quite simple. Sounds are assembled into blocks, forming syllables, and those, in turn, into words.
Where is the Republic of Korea located?
South Korea is located in East Asia in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. The area of this country is 99274 square kilometers. The largest cities in the Republic of Korea are Busan, Incheon, Ulsan, Gwangju and Daegu. The country has Taebaek and Sobaek mountains. The highest point in the Republic of Korea is the Hala volcano. In the country, a large area (60% of all territories) is occupied by forests. The unofficial name of the country, widely used in the Russian-language press, is South Korea.
Who discovered the Republic of Korea?
The territory of South Korea was discovered by the Koreans themselves. This happened in the 1st millennium BC. Vast territories were inhabited by the Korean people. Since ancient times, Koreans have been famous for the fact that their state existed for many centuries, independently of other neighboring countries. And the borders of this state for a long time remained almost unchanged. Thanks to this, the culture and traditions of the ancient state of Joseon are very well preserved.
What historical facts are known about the Republic of Korea?
Legend has it that the very first state of the Koreans was founded by a female bear in 2333 BC. From this year, Korean history began. In 300 BC, Korean warriors made military campaigns against Japan. In 108 BC, the state of the Koreans Gojoseon was captured by the Chinese. When the state of Kojoseon broke up into three parts, three large tribes were formed: Mahan, Chinhan and Penhan. In the north of the Korean peninsula, the state of Koguryo was formed. After that, in 918 AD, the state of Korea was founded, which was the prototype of present-day Korea. In the XIII century, the Mongol-Tatars attacked Korea. It was they who ordered the representatives of the Korean authorities to pay tribute to them, which lasted for 80 years.
Hanseong became the capital of the Koreans in the 14th century. Now it's Seoul. At the same time, a religion was adopted in Korea - Confucianism, which the Koreans borrowed from the Chinese. In the 16th century, the Japanese began to attack the Koreans. Like Japan, Korea was a closed country. This meant that the country did not recognize any ties with European and other countries. In the 17th century, Koreans began to pay tribute to the Chinese emperors. In the 19th century in Korea, some people tried to establish relations with the rest of the world, but these attempts were unsuccessful. The fault was the policy of the state, which did not recognize any ties with the Europeans. At the end of the 19th century, a revolutionary movement began in Korea. In the 20th century, it fell under the rule of Japan. In 1948, Korea was divided into two states: North and South.
Which city is the capital of South Korea?
The capital of South Korea is the city of Seoul, where 10 million people live. This city is considered the economic and cultural center of South Korea. Seoul is located on the Hangang River near the Yellow Sea. The city was founded in the Middle Ages and served as a military fortress. In economic terms, now Seoul is a very developed city.
What attractions are there in South Korea?
South Korea is a country rich in culture and traditions. There are many sights to see in South Korean cities. In the capital of South Korea - Seoul, ancient buildings have been preserved. There are 4 royal palaces in this city, where the kings of the Joseon Dynasty used to live. The palaces were built and completed from the 14th to the 20th centuries. The oldest is Gyeongbokgung, built in 1394. It has a throne room called Geunjeongjeong. Another interesting palace is Gyeonghigun, which was built in 1617. However, during the Japanese invasion of Korea, the palace was destroyed - only the park and the gate remained. In addition to these architectural landmarks, there are many different museums, libraries, theaters, etc. in South Korea.
What animals live in South Korea?
South Korea has a large number of animals, where there are 100 species of mammals alone. There are only about 400 species of birds. There are also many species of snakes, frogs, fish and other animals in South Korea. Of the mammals, the most common are tigers, lynxes, bears, and leopards. There are many foxes and otters in South Korea. Wild boars, squirrels, deer and roe deer live in the country's forests. Of the birds, the most common are waders, auks, cormorants, pheasants, hazel grouses, black grouse and some other birds.
Who are the indigenous people of South Korea?
The indigenous people of South Korea are Koreans, who, moreover, make up the bulk of the population. The Korean population has different religions. So, in Korea there are Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, Confucians, Taoists, monotheists and some other religious groups.
What language is spoken in South Korea?
In South Korea, the official language is Korean. It is spoken by the vast majority of the entire population of the country. But there is a small proportion of the population that speaks other languages, such as Chinese. In South Korea, the people call their language Hangukmal or Hangugo.
