Episode 103: Korean Etymology, Language Purification, and Hidden Origins ft. Byeong (Language)

⚠️Disclaimer⚠️

This episode was recorded in early May while Daniel was traveling, as an experiment during their regular recording schedule. Some references may feel slightly dated as it's being released during their summer break.

This week Jun and Byeong explore the fascinating evolution and cultural layers of language, particularly focusing on Korean linguistic heritage and cross-cultural language acquisition. Through Byeong's perspective as a Korean Canadian with deep knowledge of linguistics, they dive into how Korean has been influenced by Chinese characters (hanja), Japanese colonial period vocabulary, and modern English borrowings. The conversation covers everything from discovering that everyday Korean words like "sukgarak" (spoon) and "tamaneegi" (onion) have unexpected origins, to examining how government language purification efforts selectively target Japanese words while embracing English ones. They also discuss the cultural implications embedded in common phrases, the challenges of learning Korean as a heritage speaker, and how understanding etymological roots can deepen one's connection to both language and culture.

If you're interested in learning about the historical layers that shape modern Korean vocabulary, understanding why certain borrowed words feel more "foreign" than others, discovering how language reflects cultural attitudes and hierarchies, or hearing insights about navigating multiple languages as a heritage speaker, tune in to hear Jun and Byeong discuss all this and more! This episode also features discussions about the politeness levels embedded in seemingly casual Korean expressions, the connection between Chinese characters and Korean subway station names, and Byeong's personal journey of discovering Japanese loanwords he thought were originally Korean.

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As a reminder, we record one episode a week in-person from Seoul, South Korea. We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!

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