안녕하세요? Today, you'll learn about palatalization in Korean! It can be tricky, but I'll guide you one by one with examples!
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1. Palatalization
What is it?
In Korean, palatalization is called 구개음화. 구 means a mouth and 개 means a cover. 음 means a sound and 화 means to become. 구개음(a palatal consonant) is produced by touching the tongue to the hard palate(mouth cover). So, palatalization means a non-palatal sound becomes a palatal sound.
In English, the only palatal consonant is [j], the sound represented by the letter "y" in the word "yes". In Korean, there are three sounds; ㅈ[j], ㅉ[jj], ㅊ[ch].
Palatalization happens when the final consonant ㄷ(d) or ㅌ(t) meets 이(i) or 히(hi) after it. I'll show you detailed examples in section 2.
Within the English language, a comparable phenomenon occurs. Consider the word "soldier." Despite the presence of the letter "d" in its spelling, when pronounced, it transforms into a "j" sound rather than a "d." This alteration results from the proximity of the letter "d" to the letter "i."
Why is this happening?
It's to make pronounce things easy. Say 드[dea] and 트[teau]. Where is your tongue located? It's touching the back of your top-low teeth. (So, it is called alveolar.)
Now, say 즈[jeu] and 츠[cheu]. Try to find your tongue's position. It's touching the roof of the mouth. (So, it's called palatal.)
Now, say 이[ee/i]. When you do, the tongue is close to the roof of your mouth. So, it is close to where the ㅈ or ㅊ are pronounced.
Pronouncing "ㄷ" or "ㅌ" with the vowel "ㅣ" is inconvenient. However, if you say "ㅈ" or "ㅊ" with "ㅣ," it's easier.
That's why this "ㄷ" and "ㅌ" sounds become "ㅈ" and "ㅊ." Palatalization happens for the convenience of pronunciation!
2. Examples of Palatalization
When the final consonant ㄷ, ㅌ, is followed by the syllable 이 or 히, palatalization happens. There are three possible ways here.
1. ㄷ + 이→ 지
Try to read this word, "굳이". With the linking sound rule, we would read it as "구디." However, we don't! The first syllable has the final consonant ㄷ and 이 comes after it. Then, palatalization happens!
In this case, ㄷ[d] becomes the palatal sound ㅈ[j]. Then, this ㅈ moves on to the empty sound spot(ㅇ). So, it becomes [구지]. As you see, the palatalization comes ahead of the linking sound.
Does it make sense? Here are more words with the sounds. Try to listen and repeat! We don't have to worry about the meaning here, but I'll still write it down.
Words | Pronunciation | Meaning |
[구지] | obstinately | |
[마지] | firstborn | |
[해도지] | sunrise |
2. ㅌ + 이 → 치
The consonant "ㅌ" came from "ㄷ" so it is not free from this palatalization rule! When the final consonant ㅌ is followed by ㅣ it becomes ㅊ. Then, this ㅊ will move on to the to the empty sound ㅇ(이응)'s spot. So, in the end, it becomes 치.
Here are more examples. Listen and repeat each word!
Words | Pronunciation | Meaning |
[가치] | together | |
[바치] | farm+subject marker | |
[삳싸치] | thoroughly |
I'll explain one more word; 샅샅이. It can be complicated, so please read carefully.
So, the first syllable "샅" has the final consonant ㅌ. It is not one of the seven sounds that can be pronounced in the final consonant position. ㅌ becomes ㄷ; [삳].
Now, ㄷ that we just made affects the second syllable "샅". It makes the consonant ㅅ into the double consonant ㅆ. It is called fortis. So, we have the sound [삳쌑] so far.
As you see, the second syllable is followed by 이. In this case, palatalization happens. So, it became [쌏이] → [싸치]. Combine all together, 샅샅이 becomes [삳싸치].
If it doesn't make sense, write it down on a piece of paper, and see what affects what and what moves on to where. Also, you should know the sounds of the final consonant and fortis as well.
3. ㄷ + 히 → 치
The sound ㅌ was originally made from the combination of ㄷ and ㅎ. So, when the final consonant ㄷ is followed by ㅎ, the sound ㅌ will appear. Then, ㅌ with a vowel will interact and palatalization will happen!
Here is an example, 묻히다. You can use the diagram above to understand the rule. However, this explanation below will be also helpful.
The final consonant ㄷ meets ㅎand it becomes ㅌ; 뭍이다. Now, if you look, it's the palatalization 2. The final consonant ㅌ meets 이; 뭍이다 → 뭋이다. Then, ㅊ moves on. So we will read it as [무치다].
Words | Pronunciation | Meaning |
[무치다] | be buried | |
[구치다] | harden | |
[다치다] | close, shut |
3. Watch out!
There are things you have to watch out for! ㄷ or ㅌ doesn't always be changed into ㅈ or ㅊ. 디 or 티 is just pronounced as it is; 디 or 티!
For example, the word "느티나무" we just read as it is━[느티나무]. We don't change that ㄷ to ㅈ this time. Also, read this word, "견디다." It's just [견디다] not [견지다].
Can you see why I kept emphasizing "the final consonant" ㄷ or ㅌ? Interacting with the next syllable 이 or 히, that's what causes the issue!
Another thing is a bit tricky. It's a bit advanced concept. If you are a beginner, you can skim-read this part.
Palatalization does not occur when combined with a full morpheme. A full morpheme means a morpheme indicating an actual meaning such as a specific subject, action, state, etc.
For example, let's compare 곧이 and 곧이어. They look similar but not the same words. 곧이 means "as it is" and 곧이어 means "soon after." 곧 means "soon," "shortly," "or "at once."
곧이 is a combination of 곧+이. The 이 is an empty morpheme. It doesn't have a meaning. So, palatalization happens. We read it [고지] not [고디].
곧이어 is a combination of 곧+이어. The "이어" means "sequentially." Since it has a meaning, it means it is a full morpheme. When the final consonant ㄷ meets a full morpheme, palatalization doesn't happen! So, you can read it as [고디어]. There is no ㅈ sound or anything!
Words | Pronunciation | Meaning |
[고지] | as it is | |
[고디어] | soon after |
If it is too complicated, just try to memorize the examples I provided you above for each palatalization.
4. Wrap-up: Palatalization In Korean
You've learned one of the assimilations in Korean phonology; palatalization. Let's review the important parts.
Palatal sounds are made by touching the roof of the mouth with a tongue.
Palatal sounds in Korean: ㅈ, ㅉ, ㅊ
When a final consonant ㄷ or ㅌ meet 이 or 히 they become the palatal.
I recommend you memorize this with the example 같이(together). Even though we write it 같이, we should read it as [가치].