Explanation 5 · Three-Sound Harmony

Interchangeability of ㆆ and ㅇ

    The initial sounds ㆆ [ʔ] and ㅇ ([◌] silent in initial
    position) are very similar in pronunciation, making them
    interchangeable in speech and writing.


    Two ㄹ and lighter sounds

    The semi-tongue sound ㄹ (R/L) has two distinct
    pronunciations: a light R-like sound (R), as in 거리 GeoRi
    meaning street and 나라 NaRa meaning country, and a
    heavy L-like sound (L), as in 물 Mul meaning water and 발
    Bal meaning foot.
    In Hanja dictionaries, the initial sound of a Hanja character
    is recorded as having only one pronunciation (R). However,
    in Korean, the distinction between R and L is not strictly
    necessary, as the pronunciation naturally follows the
    position in the word.
    If one wishes to explicitly distinguish these pronunciation
    variations in writing, a method similar to the lip-light sound
    (ㅸ, soft bilabial sound) [β] (V) can be applied. By placing
                                                       ㄹ
    ㅇ beneath ㄹ, it creates a semi-tongue light sound ( ㅇ , an
    alternate form of ㄹ [ɾ]).
    When pronounced, this sound causes the tongue to lightly



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