Appendix · Guide & Notice

complete syllable, like "으," it is called a whole character (온
    글자, Ongeulja). The single sound produced by a whole
    character is called a whole sound (온소리, Onsori).
    Here, on means "complete," "fully equipped," or "flawless." A
    whole character represents a complete syllable, and the
    sound it produces is considered a complete or perfect sound.


    Root letter, basic letter, composite or combined letter

    These terms are used to classify the individual letters of
    Jeongeum. The initial sounds ㅇ ㅅ ㅁ ㄴ ㄱ (eu Seu Meu
    Neu Geu) and the medial sounds ㆍ ㅡ ㅣ (Hanul-A [ʌ], eu,
    i) are called root letters. From these root letters, the twelve
    basic consonants and eight basic vowels are formed through
    additional strokes and combinations representing the
    harmony of Heaven, Human, and Earth. Including the root
    characters, a total of 28 basic letters are completed.
    From these basic letters, additional strokes or combinations
    are added beside or below the base to create composite or
    combined letters such as ㄲ, ㅸ, and ㅘ. These individual
    letters (phonemes) then combine as initial consonants,
    medial vowels, or final consonants to form whole characters
    (syllables) that produce whole sounds.



    Appendix - Guide notice                                       267