Resyllabification (liaison) 연음

yeoneum · from Korean / English

What is resyllabification in Korean?

Resyllabification is when a final consonant moves to the start of the next syllable that begins with a vowel, as in Korean 한국어 hangugeo.

Korean spelling keeps word parts separate, but pronunciation links them: a batchim before ㅇ slides over to fill the empty slot. It is one of several sound-change rules that make written and spoken Korean look different. French liaison is a similar idea.

Examples

한국어 hanguk-eo said [한구거] hangugeo; 음악 eumak said [으막] eu-mak; 옷이 osi said [오시]

Kungfucius says: Korean consonants are polite: if the next syllable has an empty seat, they move over.