Korean Phonology: Palatalisation

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Palatalisation (구개�화/�蓋音化) is change of ㄷ, ㅌ in front of ㅣ to ㅈ or ㅊ. This is a common phenomenon in many other world languages.

Examples:

• Noun + particle
  • ë°­(farm) + ì?´(nominative) -> /바치/
  • ë??(end) + ì?´(nominative) -> /ë?„치/
  • í•´(sun) + ë?‹ì?´(rising) -> /í•´ë?„지/

• Root + particle
  • ë§?- + -ì?´ -> /마지/ (eldest child)
  • ë‹«- + -히- + -다 -> /다치다/ (being closed)

Exceptions:

• Root + Root
  • 홑(single piece) + ì?´ë¶ˆ(blanket) -> 혿＋니불 -> /혼니불/
  • ë°­(farm) + ì?´ëž‘(ridge) -> 받＋니랑 -> /반니랑/

In this case, original root '니불' and '니랑' (before initialised) changes ㄷ and ㅌ into the following consonants, this case ㄴ.

Changes resulted by palatalisation don't affect the spellings in both Koreas. 해��(correct) vs 해�지 (wrong), ��(correct) vs 마지(wrong).

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