Classical Korean refers to the Korean language used in historical texts and literature before the 19th century. It is a distinct form of Korean with its own grammar, vocabulary, and writing system.
Sino-Korean refers to words in Korean that are derived from Chinese. It is a significant part of the Korean vocabulary, particularly in formal and technical language.
Here's a breakdown of the differences:
Origin:
* Classical Korean: Native Korean words, primarily used in literature, poetry, and everyday life.
* Sino-Korean: Words borrowed from Chinese, often used in government, law, science, and academic contexts.
Grammar:
* Classical Korean: Had a more complex grammatical structure with different verb conjugations and word order compared to modern Korean.
* Sino-Korean: Words typically follow Chinese grammatical rules, often used as nouns, adjectives, and verbs in Korean.
Writing:
* Classical Korean: Used the Idu and Gugyeol writing systems, which were based on Chinese characters but adapted for Korean sounds.
* Sino-Korean: Uses Hanja (Chinese characters) for its written form.
Separation:
The distinction between Classical Korean and Sino-Korean didn't happen at a specific moment, but rather evolved gradually over centuries.
Early Influences:
* Early Korean society was significantly influenced by China, leading to the adoption of many Chinese words.
* Over time, these borrowed words became integrated into the Korean language, evolving into Sino-Korean.
Later Developments:
* The development of the Korean alphabet (Hangul) in the 15th century led to a shift in writing towards native Korean words.
* However, Sino-Korean continued to be important in formal language and academia.
Modern Usage:
* Today, both Classical Korean and Sino-Korean are used in modern Korean, but their uses are different.
* Classical Korean is primarily used in historical and literary contexts, while Sino-Korean remains essential in various professional fields and formal language.
In summary, Classical Korean and Sino-Korean are two distinct aspects of the Korean language, reflecting its history and cultural influences. They are not separate classes of Korean but rather elements that contribute to the richness and complexity of the language.