Languages

 Hello, 친구 ! How are you doing? I was studying for my Korean test, and all of a sudden an interesting idea crossed my mind. I was thinking about writing a post about the differences and similarities, between learning Korean and English. I read some articles about this, and I decided to include them in this post.  I have to admit I’m not an expert in any of these languages, but I have found some significative differences and similarities. On with the post! 

The alphabet

Of course, the alphabet is going to be very different. First of all, Hangul (the Korean alphabet) has 21 vowels and 19 consonants. So, Hangul has 30 letters. In the English alphabet, you can find 26 letters. Hangul is written from left to right and top to bottom just like in English. But the Korean language can be written from top to bottom and right to left like Chinese.

Phonology

According to the Frankfurt International School, Korean is a syllable timed language in which individual word stress is insignificant. This is radically different from English. The most noticeable problem is the realization of consonants. For example, the /θ/ and /ð/ sounds in words such as then, thirteen and clothes, the /v/ sound, which is produced as a /b/, and the /f/ sound which leads, for example, to phone being pronounced pone.

Grammar

Korean does not conjugate verbs using agreement with the subject. This is a possible reason why it takes some learners so long to remember the -s ending in English in the third person singular present simple tense: He like… instead of he likes.

Korean has a Subject-Object-Verb word order. Since personal reference is avoided, it is common to encounter Korean sentences consisting of the verb only. Grammatical categories in Korean have no clear correspondence with those of English. This often results in Korean learners using a noun or adjective where English would have an adjective or a noun. For example: My daughter doesn't come to school today because she is illness.

Korean grammar is heavily influenced by honorifics. Verb endings and choice of nouns, adjectives or pronouns depend on the relative status of the speaker or writer to the listener or reader. Honorifics do not play a major part in the English language (except in conventions for addressing people as 'Professor' or 'Your Majesty'), which can make English much easier for Korean to learn than vice versa.

Differential Use of Vocabulary by Language

Does “see” mean the same thing in English as it does in Korean? You would think so, but the correct answer is “sometimes.” Used as “to view,” the meaning of the Korean word boda (보다) and its English equivalent “to see,” are the same. However, in Korean, one can not literally say “I’d like to see the manager,” as “see” in Korean only means “view.” In English, the context tells the listener that in fact you want to speak with the manager, but in Korean “see” is not used in this manner. You need to say “I want to talk to the manager.” These kinds of language-transfer issues work both ways, so be cautious when you speak.

  

 There are probably more examples of differences and similarities between these two languages. Actually,  I didn’t want to make a long post. So, I hope you have enjoyed reading about these two amazing languages. 

Btw, happy new year :) 

다시만나요! (See you later)

Links: http://esl.fis.edu/grammar/langdiff/korean.htm

https://koreanalyst.wordpress.com/2009/01/09/the-korean-learner-of-english-english-korean-cross-linguistic-challenges/

How to look after pets during fireworks

Hi, people! How are you? I had problems with my internet connection, that’s why I couldn’t post anything these past days.  In this post, I want to talk about something that is really important. Christmas is a great time to be with the family, and have a good time. The problem is that many people forget that pets are also part of the family. Why am I saying this? Many pets find fireworks very scary. So, before Christmas and New Year's Eve roll around, let’s talk about what we can do to help our furry friends.

Let me tell you that I hate fireworks. I know many people find fireworks entertaining. But when I think about how much pets, and many people, suffer because of them, I simply don’t understand why they are used.

First of all, you always have to talk with your vet, in order to see which options are suitable for your pet.

The RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) says that in order to calm your dogs during fireworks you should:

• Walk them during daylight hours to avoid times when fireworks are likely to be set off
• Close windows and curtains to muffle the sound of fireworks
• Put on some music or tv to mask the firework sounds
• Create a quiet space where your dog can feel in control
• Create some hiding places around your home

Blue Cross also says:

• Stay calm, act normally and give lots of praise for calm behaviour. It’s OK to cuddle and stroke your pet if it helps them relax, but if they prefer to hide under your bed, then let them do this instead.
• Avoid leaving your pet alone during such potentially upsetting events. If you do have to leave the house, don’t get angry with your pet if you find they have been destructive or toileted after being left on its own. Shouting at a frightened pet will only make them more stressed.
• Don’t tie your dog up outside while fireworks are being let off, ie outside a shop while you pop inside, or leave them in the garden or in your car.
• Never take your dog to a fireworks display. Even if they doesn’t bark or whimper at the noise, it doesn’t mean they are happy. Excessive panting and yawning can indicate that your dog is stressed.

Cats

• Provide hiding places in your home
• Cats can become more stressed if they’re outside during fireworks
• Microchip your cats in case they’re startled and escape outside

Small animals

• Partly cover outside cages and pens with blankets so an area is soundproofed and hidden, but allow another area for the animals to look out
• Provide bedding small animals can burrow in
• Consider bringing them indoors – this will need to be done gradually so plan ahead.

According to Purina, these are the things you should know about your pets:

Your  dog has keen senses that make fireworks a more intense experience. Your dog’s acute hearing makes him more sensitive to the sounds of fireworks than you are. “Fireworks also produce an odor that dogs may be sensitive to,” McGowan said.

During fireworks, your dog experiences the same kind of startled response you do when you’re surprised by a loud noise. This may mean an increase in heart rate, a rush of adrenaline, and an increase in stress hormones circulating through the body.

For your dog, fireworks aren’t the same experience as a thunderstorm. Thunderstorms come with a lot of warning signs, like changes in barometric pressure and high winds, so dogs anticipate them. Since fireworks are sudden and occur less frequently than thunderstorms, dogs might be more intimidated by them.

So, in this holiday season try to take care of your pets, and have a merry Christmas and a happy new year. 

Link

https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/fireworks