[KS] pinyin system and Korean romanization
Junghee Lee
junghee at nh1.nh.pdx.edu
Mon Nov 29 14:59:49 EST 1999
Dear list:
I talked to common people in Korea and I understand why they think it is natural
for them to use "b" instead of "p" and so on and not use breve which
is not familiar to Korean common people.
It may be because how English is taught in Korea, in written form
traditionally.
If the rominization should be done only for foreigners, why do we accept Pinyin system
in the west?
When I teach Chinese art, my students have majoe problems with Pinyin
system, such as the pronunciation of "X" "Q" in pinyin.
Students argue that they cannot memorize Chinese terms because they
cannot pronounce.
But we have to now use them, without being able to pronounce and was
forced upon us away from Wade-Gile we were used to.
Probably Korean government probably was aware of the change to the
pinyin system and trying to do the same thing, simplifing breve, etc.
to internationalize Korean language's use in the west.
Would it be possible we try to understand Korean position and work
with them?
Or this is impossible and the Korean government proposal does not make any sense
at all to the westerners?
Sincerely,
Junghee Lee
Department of Art
Portland State University
Portland, OR 97207-0751
Voice: (503) 725-3347
fax: (503) 725-4541
E-mail: leeju at pdx.edu
http://odin.cc.pdx.edu/~dilj/
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