Ellis wrote:I'm avoiding learning the informal language as I have been told by my girl that as somebody born and raised in the states that I will be received with much respect that I speak the formal language. She says I will be viewed as *gulp* "cute". lol.
Anyway with the plethora of information out there and with myself just now getting my feet wet I have found for myself it's best if I can see how it's pronounced and hear it as well. I have watched some videos that do not include the pronunciation and it makes it more difficult for myself. The upshot of all this is I have also found videos were they give you the pronunciation but when the teacher (full blooded Korean) is off on the english side of speaking that makes it difficult as well.
Well, speaking from my limited experience learning Korean (anyone can correct me here!
@nooj, you around?) it's best to use the language appropriate for the context, and not try to endear yourself to the point you look like a "cute" dweeb.
Korean has various speech levels, and it takes a lot of practice to know which one you need to use. That isn't to say it can't be done, or you shouldn't try it. I think you'd get more points for trying to adjust your speech with various audiences than just speaking like a Korean robot all the time. There
is the rule of thumb that formal is always better if you don't know.
I haven't spoken to many Koreans outside of KakaoTalk or tutoring, so let's take an example from Spanish and mix it in. With Spanish you have two "you"s, one formal and one informal (in the standard version). Depending on the person I speak to, I switch which "you" I use. I usually use the formal one when I notice the person is ten years older than me or more or has a high-ranking or special position deserving of respect. If they're just a newb italki tutor, they get the informal one.
Korean is a bit similar, but more complex and a bit more strict with the structure of deference. Context is just as important with Spanish, but even more, I'd say. There are general guidelines for when you can use formal language, but Korean is a rapidly-evolving and fluid language, and the speech levels have to move to meet this demand. So things get messy.
The point of this is: I think I get more points for willingly and unabashedly using my understanding of Spanish registers than just always using "tú" or "usted," either sounding childish and insolent or like a perfect Pimsleur graduate (before their more recent course updates). I think people will trust you more as a serious learner and appreciator of Korean if you try to navigate these murky waters, but that doesn't mean you have to take the deep dive first. Start out formal, and then explore the other speech levels. Like I said, Koreans highly value respect, and especially respect of the social order. Elders receive the utmost respect, even if that elder is only a year older than you. That's probably why your girlfriend told you to speak formally in the first place. So I'd advise this: see how you're received with her parents or older relatives speaking in a high register, but keep those lower registers in reserve for anyone else you might meet. It's really awkward to address someone in their 20s (with you being in your 20s) with -seubnikka (습니까?)/-seubnida (습니다) endings. Young, social Seoul go-getters prefer -ieyo (이에요) endings amongst each other, or so I've heard.
But don't try to -- what's the word? -- infantilize yourself. I'm not sure that's the right word but I hope it comes close.
I'll ask the question people seem to be avoiding: why not learn the Korean alphabet, Hangul? From personal experience, I know reading romanization (the words spelled out in English letters) really damaged my ability to comprehend spoken Korean and pronounce it well. Giyeok (ㄱ) is forever ruined for me, along with a few other consonants and those I may not even be aware of. If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't have watched all those lyric videos with the romanization in them and only looked up the lyrics after I'd learnt Hangul.
I'm genuinely curious here. This is a source of hot debate in any "non-Latin script" learning circle.