1. Hangul Day ( 한글날 ) Saturday October 9 th, 2010 Hangul Day is an annual Korean holiday that celebrates the creation of the Korean written language called Hangul. In South Korea it is celebrated on October 9 th every year.

2. Information on Korean Language The Korean written language (Hangul) was created in 1443 by linguist scholars. It was commissioned by King Sejong. Because it was created by linguists it has these features: Simple alphabet of 28 characters. Very phonetic – if you see it you can pronounce it. Consonants that make similar sounds – look similar (actually a hint of the shape your mouth makes). Grouped by syllables, so you always know where syllables start and end. Y sounds are added to vowels with a simple consistent rule, and W sounds are built by combining vowels (called diphthongs by linguists). Because of the rules you can’t stream letters together in an unpronounceable way like you can English.

3. Placement of Characters in Syllables Syllables start with a consonant followed by a vowel and then possibly an ending consonant. If the syllable starts with a vowel the starting consonant is the silent consonant (a circle). Syllables are stacked in Korean with the consonant (or silent circle) at top left, the vowel’s beneath and possibly to the right of that, and then the ending consonant at the bottom.

4. Syllable Stacking Consonant (or silent consonant) Vertical Vowel? Ending Consonant? Horizontal Vowel?

5. Examples Consonants: ㄱ = K sound ㅁ = M sound Vowels (Vertical/horizontal): ㅏ = A sound ㅗ = O sound 가 = Ka (subject indicator) (Vertical vowel) 고 = Ko (and)(Horizontal vowel) 곰 = Kom (bear)(ending consonant) 목 = Mok (neck)(ending consonant)

6. Example Names Without Changes 조엘 = Joel 이안 = Ian 게리 = Gary 에릭 = Erik 앤기 = Angie 제시 = Jesse 롭 = Rob 존악키 = Jonakee 코리 = Cory 짐 = Jim 마리네 = Marriane 맡 = Matt 파블로 = Pablo 오티 = Outi 샌디 = Sandy 김 = Kim 가사 = Kasia 오웬 = Owen 데릭 = Derrick 동훈안 = Donghoonan 존 = John 존니 = Johnny 조안 = JoAnn

7. Names requiring adding/changing sounds 마크 = Mark (Ma-ku) 브리안 = Brian (Bu-ri-an) 모트 = Mort (Mo-tu) 제롣 = Jerod (JeRot) 피터 = Peter (Pi-tah) 시릴 = Sherrel (Shi-ril) 마셀 = Marcel (Ma-sel) 데니스 = Denise (De-ni-su) 로드 = Rod (Ro-du) 마채 = Marzia (Ma-chae) 곤노르 = Connor (Con-no-ru)