Korean

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A language of Korea, South

ISO 639-3
kor
Autonym
한국말‎ (Hanguk-mal), 한국어‎ (Hanguk-eo)
Population

48,400,000 in South Korea (2010). Total users in all countries: 77,264,890.

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps
Language Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Classification
Koreanic
Dialects

Seoul (Kangwondo, Kyonggido), Chungcheongdo (North Chungcheongdo, South Chungcheongdo), Kyongsangdo (North Kyongsangdo, South Kyongsangdo), Jeollado (North Jeollado, South Jeollado), Jeju Island. Scholars differ as to whether or not Korean is related to Japanese [jpn]. Dialect boundaries generally correspond to provincial boundaries. Some dialects are not easily intelligible with others (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977). The suffix, -do, on dialect names means Province. Comprehension of standard Korean may be lower on Jeju Island.

Typology

SOV; postpositions; noun head final; no articles; case-marking (6 cases); passives; tense and aspect; causatives; 21 consonants, 8 vowels, 12 diphthongs; non-tonal; traces of vowel harmony; 3 social registers.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 98% (1995). Higher adult illiteracy is reported on Jeju Island. Fully developed. Bible: 1911–1993.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Korean
Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Hangul and Han scripts [Kore], primary usage. Latin script [Latn], used for maps and signs.

Other Comments

Buddhist, Christian.

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