Billy Go’s Beginner Korean Course | #9: Sound Change Rules for 한글

Summary

This lesson introduces sound change rules in Korean (한글), which simplify pronunciation and make reading easier. The instructor explains how certain consonants change at the end of syllables and when combined with other sounds. Examples include the transformation of final consonants into different sounds to ensure smoother pronunciation, and how double consonants naturally occur in speech. Emphasis is placed on how most of these rules are learned naturally through exposure rather than memorization. The lesson wraps up with an overview of common sound changes and encourages students to continue practicing without worrying about mastering every rule immediately.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sound change rules help make Korean easier and faster to read and pronounce.
• 🗣️ Some syllables cannot be pronounced as-is in Korean, and sound change rules adjust them to be pronounceable.
• 🧐 When a syllable ends with a consonant that cannot be read, it often changes to 디귿 (D sound).
• 📘 Common syllables that change to 디귿 at the end are examples like 맏, 믿, and 갇.
• 🎯 The pronunciation of certain consonants can shift to double consonants when two syllables are involved, like in the word 학교.
• 🔊 히읗 (H sound) often disappears between two syllables with empty consonants, as seen in words like 싫어 and 많아.
• 💡 히읗 also strengthens the following consonant, turning it into a strong version, as in 착하다 and 많다.
• ✅ Some consonants naturally change when following another syllable ending in specific consonants, making the pronunciation smoother, like with the word 받다.
• 🌐 Consonants like 리을 can cause the following consonant to become a double consonant, such as in 밀당 and 물가.
• 📖 These rules help simplify Korean pronunciation, making it more natural, even without strict memorization.

Q & A

What are sound change rules in the context of the Korean language?

Sound change rules in Korean are linguistic phenomena that make pronunciation easier and faster. They allow certain sounds to flow through others or change to make words more pronounceable and natural.

Why is the syllable 마시 pronounced with an empty consonant?

The syllable 마시 uses an empty consonant to allow other sounds to flow through them, making it easier to pronounce.

How is the syllable 마 pronounced without the sound 이?

Without the sound 이, the syllable 마 is pronounced as 맏, using a sound change rule that turns the bottom consonant into a 디귿.

What happens when a syllable ends with a consonant that cannot be pronounced as-is?

When a syllable ends with a consonant that cannot be pronounced alone, such as the six specific letters mentioned in the script, it changes to become pronounced as the consonant 디귿.

Can you provide an example of a sound change rule that occurs naturally when speaking quickly?

Yes, when two syllables are next to each other and the first ends with any consonant except 미음, 니은, or 리을, and the second begins with one of the five specified consonants, the second syllable's consonant becomes a double consonant.

What is the purpose of learning sound change rules for Korean learners?

The purpose of learning sound change rules is to help learners pronounce Korean words more naturally and fluently without having to memorize every rule explicitly.

How are the consonants 쌍기역, 키읔, and 피읖 treated at the end of a syllable?

Consonants 쌍기역, 키읔, and 피읖 are pronounced as their regular versions at the end of a syllable without any change.

What happens to the 히읗 sound when it comes between two syllables with an empty consonant?

When the 히읗 sound comes between two syllables with an empty consonant, it simply disappears, making the pronunciation smoother.

Can you give an example of a sound change rule involving the letter 리을?

Yes, when a syllable ends with 리을 and is followed by another syllable starting with one of the five specified consonants, the second syllable's consonant usually becomes a double consonant.

What is the effect of the 히읗 sound on a regular consonant when it comes before or after it?

When the 히읗 sound comes before or after a regular consonant, it causes that consonant to become a strong consonant.

What should learners do if they encounter a word that doesn't follow the standard sound change rules?

Learners should treat irregular words as they encounter them and learn them individually, without needing to understand every single pronunciation rule.