The Characteristics of the Hunminjeongeum Medial Letters : from the Perspective of Writing System

Abstract

This study investigates the characteristics of the Hunminjeongeum medial letters from the perspective of writing system. The second derivation letters(再出字) and the composite letters(相合字) related to them were examined in terms of the constraints on letter shape, the operating system of the letters, and the constraints on the syllabic block. The present study provides answers to the questions about why a dot was employed as a graphical device for an onglide [j] of the second derivation letters, and why only the second derivation letters of all diphthongal letters were included in the eleven Hunminjeongeum medial letters, and why and were described separately and different from the SDs and the other composite letters. A graphical device ⋅ was used for an onglide [j] instead of ㅣ to avoid confusion in the operating system of the letters. The eleven Hunminjeongeum medial letters are a collection of unitary letters to form composite medial letters. and were unavoidable choices to avoid confusion in the operating system of the letters, so that they fill the case vide in the symmetric sets of diphthongal medial letters, showing that the vertical medial letter precedes the horizontal one beyond the medial letter position which is empty.