Korean Linguistics - Volume 8, Issue 1, 1994

In this paper, we discuss contraction phenomena in Korean. We explore what environments this construction is found in and how it is formed.

The purpose of the present study is to examine the origin of Sino-Korean. Karlgren and Park reach more or less the same conclusion that Sino-Korean originates from the language of the Qieyun. In this study, I propose that Sino-Korean is derived from the northern Late Middle Chinese in about 7-8 centuries, particularly from the new standard language of Changan in the period of Late Middle Chinese. The decisive pieces of evidence are: (1) the Middle Sino-Korean [z-] or zero initial corresponding to the Middle Chinese ri initial reflects the denasalized [r-] in Late Middle Chinese rather than the palatal nasal in Early Middle Chinese, (2) Sino-Korean reflects a palatalized [-y-] after the velars in Division II which emerged from Late Middle Chinese, and (3) Sino-Korean reflects the merged finals of Late Middle Chinese rather than the complicated finals of Early Middle Chinese.