I'm learning Korean

[Alexander's Horse]

Left my last position on 15 July and since I've been on Korean language training and pre posting briefings. Its a lot of fun. We were started on reading and writing on day one and the teacher is pushing it along. Says we're doing well - Mrs Horse is doing it too. We've learned the alphabet and can read and write at about first grade level.

Its a very logical language. Much easier than Japanese or Chinese, which have pictograms. My teacher tells me if you master Korean, Japanese is easy so that is something to aim for.

The theory is you learn the grammar and to read and write and then pick up the vocab in country. I think its a good plan. I can get a tutor while I'm there.

[Japher]

I can hardly speak english, my native tongue. I once tried to learn german, but those VW adds screwed me up... Funkengroven man

[Seeker]

Here's a funny exercise:

Try translating "I brought my wife a new dress and gave it to her at home later that night" into hangeul. (yes I know it's hard)

Then translate it back literally and see how mangled the grammar looks.

Also: it is said that wealthy Seoulite couples will sometimes argue in English when they fight due to the occasionally frustratingly vague nature of Korea grammar.

[FrustratedPoet]

Good luck Horse!

I found Korean easy to read, but struggled a lot with understanding it when spoken, and my own accent was terrible. I never really studied it properly though - just picked things up as I went along.

[Q Classic]

Its a very logical language. Much easier than Japanese or Chinese, which have pictograms. My teacher tells me if you master Korean, Japanese is easy so that is something to aim for.

/me throws a flag
Japanese uses Kanji, which are pictograms, yes, but they also use the syllabary extensively as well. Korean also uses pictograms (called Hanja), just not as extensively--so it's easier to get by without knowing them.

Japanese grammar is somewhat similar to Korean grammar, which is why it's easier to pick up once you've got Korean down pat (and vice versa).

And I have no problem with frustratingly vague grammar. I seriously wish English and other languages were more like that.

[Seeker]

" Korean uses Hanja..."

yeah that's what they say........how many hanja do YOU know besides your own name?

AH: try to buy an illegal name chop. It is technically illegal for waygookeem to own the 'real' legal korean name chop.

A 'Chop', is of course the stamp which usually has your name in traditional chinese characters (or kanji, or hanja, or whatever chinese-lite version)

[Q Classic]

Actually, here's my shameful confession:

I know, like, 3 Hanja characters, more if you include what's used in Changgi. As far as my name... I know only my surname, Kim.

[Timexwatch]

A question for resident Koreans:

Does Korean have a "Romanji-style" system that allows honkeys like me to cheat and learn some vocabulary?

[Q Classic]

It's been my experience when people transliterate it, they tend to use the romanization systems often used for names.

But afaik, there's no concrete system like romanji.

[Alexander's Horse]

Yeah they use some pictograms, like in restaurant signs, but you don't need to know them at the stage we are at, which is learning the alphabet, basic rules of grammar and numbers. the last couple of days we have been doing numbers, money and telling the time.

[Jon Miller]

so you aren't going to be making any more visits to DC for work?

anyways, good luck in your new duties

JM

[Alexander's Horse]

thanks jon

finished language training last Friday - one week of briefings - pack up week after - and arrive Seoul Friday week

[Sava]

I can speak Korean.

"no zerg rush I KOReA kekekekekeekeke"

[Grandpa Troll]

Congrats AH

From years of Tae Kwon Do training, I spoke some Korean, couldnt write it but sounded it out

Haesan(bow)

Dwiradolla dobuk dan jon (turn around fix uniform)

Skijak (begin)

Jungkwon (inverted knife hand??)

Hyung (Pattern)

But I have utmost respect for ethics of Korean Tae Kwon Do

Enjoy your trip and enjoy the culture!

Grandpa Troll

[Alexander's Horse]

the boys will probably do Tae Kwon Do - although I'm a little worried they will use it on each other