Korean Culture and Traditions
Ruth Benedict was quoted saying, “Culture is not a biologically transmitted complex.” In many ways, through studying a foreign country or culture, this statement is very true. In most cases, cultures do pass from generation to generation. But this has nothing to due with biology. Obviously, cultures can be passed through music, art, folklore stories, and games. But some of the best ways that culture and tradition are passed on are often overlooked. For example, South Korea is one country which over the years, through wars and independence, has retained a strong sense of culture. The country has easily maintained its culture through language, religion, and holidays.
Language is one of the most unsurpassed ways to continue and spread culture. In most foreign language classes even in the U.S. culture is one topic that is taught, thus to learn a language one must learn its culture. But does the relationship between language and culture go the other way, that to learn a culture one must learn the language? Yes, the answer is absolutely yes. There is a reason that many people when use the phrase “lost in translation,” when they are having trying to interpret for a foreigner. This is because even if, for example, a joke is translated if one doesn’t understand the culture behind the joke, that person may not understand the humor in it. Even certain old phrases, like “break a leg,” are not always understood. In South Korea their language has withstood many changes.
As South Korea, or the Republic of Korea, has only within the last hundred years obtained independence, the Korean language is shared between both North and South Korea. The language originates from part of the Altaic language family. Like English there are various apparent dialects, but these diverse dialects are mostly understood throughout the Korean speakers. Although the region this language is spoken in is small and partially remote, it is still spoken by over sixty-five million
Language is one of the most unsurpassed ways to continue and spread culture. In most foreign language classes even in the U.S. culture is one topic that is taught, thus to learn a language one must learn its culture. But does the relationship between language and culture go the other way, that to learn a culture one must learn the language? Yes, the answer is absolutely yes. There is a reason that many people when use the phrase “lost in translation,” when they are having trying to interpret for a foreigner. This is because even if, for example, a joke is translated if one doesn’t understand the culture behind the joke, that person may not understand the humor in it. Even certain old phrases, like “break a leg,” are not always understood. In South Korea their language has withstood many changes.
As South Korea, or the Republic of Korea, has only within the last hundred years obtained independence, the Korean language is shared between both North and South Korea. The language originates from part of the Altaic language family. Like English there are various apparent dialects, but these diverse dialects are mostly understood throughout the Korean speakers. Although the region this language is spoken in is small and partially remote, it is still spoken by over sixty-five million
Bibliography: 1BIP Lecture Book, Religion lecture, Language lecture, Hangul, Architecture, and food. 2Duk-Hwang Kim. A History of Religions in Korea. Published by arrangement with Daeji Moonhwa-sa 3Kim, ChaBong. A Confucian Theory of Leadership: Building Western Leadership Practice on Eastern Thought. Seoul: Parkmungak Publishing, 1999. 4Koh, Frances M. Korean Holidays and Festival. 1990. 5Laquian, Eleanor. Design for a New Millenium. Vancouver: Institute of Asian Research, 1996. 6Simons, Craig. “A Rare Glimpse into a Closed Art World.” New York Times. May 19, 2005. http://www.korea-is-one.org/article.php3?id_article=1715 7Taylor, Rodney L. “The Religious Character of the Confucian Tradition.” Philosophy East and West 48.1 (1991): 80-107