Korean 101: Linguistics, Power Relations, and Uncertainty

So, I've been having a lot of great workshops, talks, and of course the obligatory 4 hours+ of Korean a day. Now you may say, "Wow! 4 hours or more of Korean language studies a day! You must be speaking huh?" Well, my response will be nearly universal, though varying in my blantant word choice. The answer is fuck-off. I am drowning in a pool of hangeul and everytime I grab a phrase to lift myself afloat for air at a supermarket, the lifeguard gives me a puzzled look and lets me slip back into the water.

Yet I went to a very encouraging talk today about linguistics. Charles Chang was a former ETA, currently attending Berkeley for a PHD in Linguistics. Korean really is one of the hardest languages for an English speaker to learn, and though much of his talk was shedding light onto the difficulties I have and will encounter in the language, it made me even more determined to learn the language. I believe strongly though, that 1 year will not nearly be enough to communicate past an infantile level. I am loving the learning this language, much more than Italian(possibly due to the more positive responses I receive from Koreans when I try), but my brain physically cannot handle all the studying. Sometimes I'll hear a word, repeat it a dozen times, and then hear it 15 minutes later and wonder what the hell it means. Frustrating, you know? But I am doing well in the class and am one of the best beginning students out of all the ETAs.

Power Relations. This is a funny thing in Korea. I could probably find a link to a really great article, but that would take unwanted work that you could do instead of me, and I could just sum it up for y'all anyway.
Basically, Korea is socially structured like India, though not as divided and obviously based on class. It also allows for steps up and down the social ladder, though you must make those steps during school. In essence, how you do in school is a dire determinate for the rest of your life. You may have heard of Korean kids committing suicide after placing less than expected on the KSAT. Well, that's not THAT common, but it does happen sometimes. The Korean version of the SAT is so important in Korea, that there are special TV channels that air tutoring 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On testing day, planes do not fly, construction is forbidden, and most places near schools are shut down to provide absolute quiet and allow for everyone to make it on time to the test. The test will determine what University you go to, period. And once you are in the U, it doesn't matter how you perform or whether or not you really do at all. You will be of that social status for life and currying favors is easy because you will just drop your school name and doors open.
Power relations are apparent in many aspects of life here. It is not entirely uncommon to be asked certain personal questions(eg How old are you? What school did you go to? Do you know Jesus? Are you married? And why not?) many of which are used to determine how they may address you as there are many different forms of polite grammar. What I find most interesting about the culture is that power relations are primarily based on age. The question 'how old are you' is used to determine absolutely who the superior is and who is junior. Years, months, weeks, days, hours and even minutes older can matter. In fact, the term friend is only used for people born in the same year. And even then, friends recognize the difference between the superior and junior in their relationship. Yeah.

On the uncertainty factor, it's harder to recognize, but think of it as taking risks. The funniest example I can think of is the way Koreans open doors. Imagine Americans walking through doors. It's very certain and determined. (Ex. Kramer from Seinfeld)
Then you have Koreans who open the door and peak around it like they will have things thrown at him/her, and knocking ever so lightly as the door swings calmly open. There are lots of little examples like this that you really, just have to witness to understand what's happening. It's too funny sometimes.

Alright. That's all I got for today folks.