E305/505 Korean Language and Culture

Slangs in Korean

1. What is slang? How is slang different from jargon?



2. What are the characteristics of slang?



3. Who uses slang expressions more than others?



4. Why use slang? What are the functions of slang?



5. What is the attitude of a society toward slang expressions? Is it legitimate?



6. Language changes and so do slang expressions? Some slang words have now become accepted as "normal" language. Can you think of examples in English?



7. Try to guess what the following slang expressions in Korean could mean.
   
   

    

   Korean slang	Lit. meaning	Figurative meaning	English Slang
   yôl-pat-ta	Heat- receive	Get angry
   Ttukkông-yôlli-ta	Top-open	Get angry
   Ccok-phalli-ta	Face-be:sold	Ashamed
   Ippal-kka-ta	Teeth-peel off	Talk aloud
   Kim-sae-ta	Steam-leak	disappointed
   Cuki-ta	kill	Extremely excellent
   Kkûthnaecu-ta	finish	Extremely excellent
   Yang-tali kôlchi-ta	Lay both legs across	Two-time, double deal<
   Ssip-ta	Chew	Bad-mouth someone
   Ssip-ta	Chew, swallow	Ignore a message
   Cong-chi-ta	The ring bells	Something ends to one’s regret
   Huci-ta (<hiumici-ta)	Become a tail/rear	secluded, lousy
   pae ccae	Cut my stomach	I don't kow. Do whatever you want
   kkôcyô	get extinguished, have your fire turned off	Get lost

    

   Intensifiers:

   Yôlla	Heat-coming out	very
   Conna	Genital-coming out	very
   Toeke	Thickly	very

    

   Persons with character:

   Ccang	Fanfare	The best
   Congkyôl-ca	Finisher	The best person
   Yôngkye	Young chicken	Young woman
   shot-tali	short leg	a short person
   long-tali	long leg	a tall person

   
   
   
   

8. Find a corresponding slang expression in English to the Korean slangs above. Come up with one that utilizes a similar metaphor or strategy if possible.
   
   

9. What are the strategies of creating slang expressions?