TOPIK TOPIK Korean Pronunciation and Phonology 3

Question 1

Which of the following Hangul vowels represents the sound [we] as in 'way'?

Accepted Answer

ㅞ

Answer

ㅞ represents the [we] compound vowel in Korean.

Question 2

Why is '먹어요' pronounced [머거요] rather than [먹어요] in natural speech?

Accepted Answer

Liaison (연음)

Answer

Liaison causes the final ㄱ of 먹 to link to the initial vowel ㅓ of 어, producing [머거요].

Question 3

Which consonant pair demonstrates aspirate assimilation, where a plain stop followed by ㅎ becomes aspirated?

Accepted Answer

ㄱ + ㅎ → [ㅋ]

Answer

When ㄱ is followed by ㅎ (or vice versa), they merge into the aspirated [ㅋ].

Question 4

What does the term '받침' (batchim) refer to in Korean phonology?

Accepted Answer

A syllable-final consonant

Answer

받침 refers to the consonant(s) appearing at the bottom (final position) of a Hangul syllable block.

Question 5

Which of the following words undergoes tensification (경음화), producing a tense consonant?

Accepted Answer

학교 → [학꾜]

Answer

After a final obstruent like ㄱ, the following plain consonant ㄱ tensifies to ㄲ, making 학교 sound like [학꾜].

TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) Practice Test