Korean Standard Pronunciation137

Korean Standard Pronunciation (KSP) is the official pronunciation of the Korean language as standardized by the National Institute of the Korean Language (NIKL). It is based on the speech of educated native speakers of Korean from the Seoul metropolitan area. KSP is used in education, broadcasting, and official settings. It is also the basis for the Revised Romanization of Korean, which is the official romanization system for Korean.

KSP is a phonemic system, meaning that each sound has a distinct representation in the writing system. There are 19 consonant sounds and 21 vowel sounds in KSP. Consonants can be divided into two types: obstruents and sonorants. Obstruents are sounds that are produced by obstructing the airflow, such as stops, fricatives, and affricates. Sonorants are sounds that are produced by allowing the airflow to pass through the vocal tract relatively freely, such as nasals, liquids, and glides.

Vowels can be divided into two types: monophthongs and diphthongs. Monophthongs are sounds that are produced by a single vowel sound, such as /a/, /e/, and /o/. Diphthongs are sounds that are produced by a combination of two vowel sounds, such as /ai/, /eo/, and /ui/.

KSP is a tonal language, meaning that the pitch of a syllable can change its meaning. There are four tones in KSP: high, low, rising, and falling. The high tone is the highest tone, the low tone is the lowest tone, the rising tone rises in pitch, and the falling tone falls in pitch.

KSP is a complex system, but it is essential for learning to speak and understand Korean correctly. It is used in all official settings, and it is the basis for the Revised Romanization of Korean. By learning KSP, you can improve your communication skills and make it easier to learn Korean.

Here are some tips for pronouncing KSP correctly:
Pay attention to the difference between aspirated and unaspirated consonants. Aspirated consonants are pronounced with a puff of air, while unaspirated consonants are not.
Be careful not to pronounce the final consonants of words too strongly. In KSP, final consonants are often pronounced lightly.
Use the correct tone for each syllable. The tone of a syllable can change its meaning.

With a little practice, you can learn to pronounce KSP correctly and improve your Korean communication skills.

2024-10-29

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