[Korean Culture & Language] LOL

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While some people argue that the internet is destroying language, many linguists claim that it is actually improving our ability to communicate in more diverse ways. People now have a wide range of options for expressing oneself online, ranging from words and acronyms to emoji and GIFs.

Texting, blogging, and emailing have become so interwoven in our everyday lives and relationships, to the point that the forms of language and communication have fundamentally transformed.

Texting abbreviations like ICYMI (In case you missed it), TL;DR (Too long, didn't read), LMK (Let me know), NVM (Nevermind), TBH (To be honest) is a popular form of online language. 



source: https://www.flaticon.com/

‘ㅋㅋ’ in Korea is almost equivalent to ‘LOL’. 

‘ㅋㅋ’ is an abbreviation for ‘키키’ or ‘크크’ which are the onomatopoeias for laughing. The numbers of ‘ㅋ’ s might indicate one’s level of interest in what the other person has said. Just writing one ‘ㅋ’ is like sending a ‘ha,’ and ‘ㅋㅋ’ usually means ‘haha’. As more ‘ㅋ’s are added, the more one is amused by someone’s statement or something.


https://youtu.be/djvGxJ7s_LU

The lyrics below are from Chang Kiha & The Faces song ‘ㅋ’.

너는 쿨쿨 자나봐
I guess you’re asleep.
(‘쿨쿨’ is an onomatopoeia for ‘deeply asleep’ or ‘snoring’)

문을 쿵쿵 두드리고 싶지만
I want to come and knock on your door.
(‘쿵쿵’ is an onomatopoeia for ‘knocking on the door’)

어두컴컴한 밤이라
But since it’s already dark outside,
(‘어두컴컴’ is a mimetic word that describes and emphasizes darkness)

문자로 콕콕콕콕콕콕 찍어서 보낸다
I’m sending you a message instead.
(‘콕’ is an onomatopoeia that means ‘pressing’ or ‘poking’. In this case, it sounds like he’s pressing the keys on his phone(typing) with his fingers)

웬종일 쿵쿵대는 내 맘을 시시콜콜 적어 전송했지만
I typed and expressed all of my feelings, including the fact that my heart beats hard all day for you. (‘쿵쿵’ is an onomatopoeia that describes ‘heart pounding quickly’ or means ‘thud’)
(시시콜콜 is a 의태어 describing ‘every little thing’)

너는 쿨쿨 자다가 아주 짧게 ㅋ 한 글자만 찍어서 보냈다
You only replied by sending me a short message that read, ‘ㅋ’

크크크크 크크 크크 크크 크크
ㅋㅋㅋㅋ ㅋㅋ ㅋㅋ ㅋㅋ ㅋㅋ

큰 걸 바라지는 않았어
I didn’t expect much
(‘큰 것’ is literally translated to ‘a big thing’ but it also means ‘much’)

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