『훈민정음』 해례의 제자론(制字論)에 대한 비판적 고찰 (A Critical Study on the Theory of Hangeul Formation as Presented in the Hunminjeongeum Haerye)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 한국어문학회
· 수록지 정보 : 어문학 / 123호 / 39 ~ 66페이지
· 저자명 : 백두현

초록

This study points out five problematic issues to be found in the theory of letter formation written out in the Hunminjeongeum Haerye, and discusses their contents from a critical viewpoint. Of the five issues discussed by the author, the most serious problem resulting in a breach of the structure of letter formation is the designation of the basic letter for molar sounds. The heart of the issue is that due to the influence of Chinese rhyme sound patterns, the weakest sound among the molars, ㆁ[ŋ], was not designated as the basic letter. A similar problem, that of designating the basic letter as one that is not a sound neither clear nor muddy (不淸不濁音), also appears in dentals as well. However, the neither clear nor muddy sound ㅿ in Korean has a very limited usage, so that its displacement is not a serious issue. The study also points out that the relationship between basic and stroke-added letterforms of laryngeals are of an entirely different nature from that of molars, linguals, labials, and others.
This study also finds inappropriate over-application of the concept of speed (緩急) in the system of final sounds, resulting in explanations saying that pronouncing ㄱ slowly gives ㆁ and pronouncing ㆁ rapidly gives ㄱ. This is one of the faults that can be found in the letter formation theory of Hunminjeongeum Haerye. The letters ㅇ and ㄱ among the finals can be matched as a pair in speed, but the explanation found in the Jongseonghae (Explanations of the Final Sounds) that ㆁ pronounced rapidly becomes ㄱ, a tense sound, lacks phonetic integrity. Such a relationship of alternation by way of speed change cannot be found in other pairs of speed as presented in the Haerye, such as ㄴ and ㄷ, ㅁ and ㅂ, ㅿ and ㅅ, or ㅇ and ㆆ.
A positive take on the application of the theory of Xiangshu (Images-Numbers) and generative status number (生成位數) to the theory of forming the medial letters could consider it to be an effort to add philosophical depth to Hunminjeongeum. However, in another light, it can be considered an over-application of the theory of the Book of Changes (周易). Compared to the application of the Five Elements (五行) to the theory of forming the initial letters, the application of Xiangshu theory and generative status number to the formation of medials lacks persuasion and naturalness.
Finally, the study points out the possible confusion of letterforms between the shapes of and ㆎ. Fortunately, in actual use, ㆎ is always preceded by an initial consonant. This results in the ㆍ being placed under an initial at all times, so that the forms of and ㆎ are not easily confused in practice.

영어초록

This study points out five problematic issues to be found in the theory of letter formation written out in the Hunminjeongeum Haerye, and discusses their contents from a critical viewpoint. Of the five issues discussed by the author, the most serious problem resulting in a breach of the structure of letter formation is the designation of the basic letter for molar sounds. The heart of the issue is that due to the influence of Chinese rhyme sound patterns, the weakest sound among the molars, ㆁ[ŋ], was not designated as the basic letter. A similar problem, that of designating the basic letter as one that is not a sound neither clear nor muddy (不淸不濁音), also appears in dentals as well. However, the neither clear nor muddy sound ㅿ in Korean has a very limited usage, so that its displacement is not a serious issue. The study also points out that the relationship between basic and stroke-added letterforms of laryngeals are of an entirely different nature from that of molars, linguals, labials, and others.
This study also finds inappropriate over-application of the concept of speed (緩急) in the system of final sounds, resulting in explanations saying that pronouncing ㄱ slowly gives ㆁ and pronouncing ㆁ rapidly gives ㄱ. This is one of the faults that can be found in the letter formation theory of Hunminjeongeum Haerye. The letters ㅇ and ㄱ among the finals can be matched as a pair in speed, but the explanation found in the Jongseonghae (Explanations of the Final Sounds) that ㆁ pronounced rapidly becomes ㄱ, a tense sound, lacks phonetic integrity. Such a relationship of alternation by way of speed change cannot be found in other pairs of speed as presented in the Haerye, such as ㄴ and ㄷ, ㅁ and ㅂ, ㅿ and ㅅ, or ㅇ and ㆆ.
A positive take on the application of the theory of Xiangshu (Images-Numbers) and generative status number (生成位數) to the theory of forming the medial letters could consider it to be an effort to add philosophical depth to Hunminjeongeum. However, in another light, it can be considered an over-application of the theory of the Book of Changes (周易). Compared to the application of the Five Elements (五行) to the theory of forming the initial letters, the application of Xiangshu theory and generative status number to the formation of medials lacks persuasion and naturalness.
Finally, the study points out the possible confusion of letterforms between the shapes of and ㆎ. Fortunately, in actual use, ㆎ is always preceded by an initial consonant. This results in the ㆍ being placed under an initial at all times, so that the forms of and ㆎ are not easily confused in practice.

참고자료

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