韓․日 漢字音의 形成에 관한 研究

Abstract

This study is to identify the introduction, formation process of pronunciation of Chinese characters of Korea and Japan, and reflective aspect of Chinese characters' pronunciation on both the Korean and Japanese consonants during Jung-go-han-eum-gi ( medial period of Chinese characters pronunciation) and correlation between Chinese characters of Korea and Japan.

Based on borrowed Chinese characters, Japan expanded their vocabulary through various methods such as reading Chinese characters by their traditional pronunciation and the Japanese reading of them. According to intermittent exchange due to its geographical conditions, Japan has various ways of reading. O-eum and Han-eum are representative ways of reading. Unlike Japan, Korea has a stable principle of correspondence of one pronunciation for one character through continuous exchange with China. Because of it, reading of Korean Chinese characters is easier.

This study examines initial consonants of the Jung-go-han-oum-gi ( medial period of Chinese characters pronunciation) and reflective aspect on Korean and Japanese initial sounds. The results are presented as follows: because of unestablished consonant system, correspondence of aspirated sounds to unaspirated sounds, or voiced consonant to voiceless sounds is not exactly reflected, but it is assumed that there was a relatively regular reflection. There are several suggestions concerning Korean and Japanese consonants focusing on Chinese character pronunciation and reflective aspect. However, it is assumed that pronunciaton of Chinese characters reflected complex influence of Sang-go-eum and( sounds of ancient period) Geun-dae-eum ( sounds of modern period) based on Jung-go-eum ( sounds of medial period).

And, in comparing initial consonants with Koeran and Japanese head consonants, the result was similar to that of Japanese O-eum. However, the O-eums keep thick voice with classification of voiced and voiceless sounds while for Korean chinese characters, they are commonly voiceless. Therefore, it can not be said that correlation between Korean and Japanese consonants is explained with either of O-eum or Han-eum.