Appendix · Guide & Notice

2. Hunminjeongeum, Jeongeum, and Hangul


    Hunminjeongeum is sometimes written as Jeongeum when
    necessary. In explanations where there is no difference from
    modern Hangul, the term Hangul is used instead of
    Jeongeum. Consonants and vowels that are not explicitly
    mentioned in Hunminjeongeum are used interchangeably.
    The terms initial sound(첫소리), medial sound(가운뎃소리),
    and final sound(끝소리) are also expressed as
    choseong(initial consonants), jungseong(medial vowels, and
    jongseong(final consonants). When combined as a set, they
    are referred to as cheotgakkeut(첫가끝: CheotGaGgeut) or
    chojungjong(초중종).
    Sounds and letters are not specifically distinguished in
    expression. In other words, initial sound refers to both the
    initial sound letter and the sound itself.
    The initial sound and final sound are consonants are called
    홀소리(Holsori) meaning touching sound because, when
    producing these sounds, the airflow touches parts of the
    mouth such as the tongue, lips, or throat. While the medial
    vowels are 닿소리(Datsori) meaning pure sound because the
    airflow passes through without touching any part of the
    speech organs.


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