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The term 한류 is romanized using the Revised Romanization of Korean (RR), which is the official system for romanizing Korean used in South Korea.
In the Revised Romanization (RR) system, the term 한류 is romanized as Hanryu but pronounced as Hallyu because of a linguistic rule called assimilation.
Here’s the breakdown according to RR rules:
- 한 (Han) is romanized as “Han.” The components are:
- “ㅎ” is “h”
- “ㅏ” is “a”
- “ㄴ” is “n”
- 류 (Ryu) is romanized as “ryu.” The components are:
- “ㄹ” is “r”
- “ㅠ” is “yu”
Why is it Hallyu and not Hanryu?
In Korean pronunciation, when the consonants ㄹ (r/l) and ㄴ (n) meet, a phonological rule called assimilation often occurs. This is because both consonants are articulated using similar tongue positions, making the transition between them smoother if one changes to match the other.
Here’s how this rule applies:
- When ㄴ (n) comes before or after ㄹ (r/l), the ㄴ (n) sound typically changes to ㄹ (l). This makes the pronunciation easier and more fluid.
For example:
The word 한류, without the assimilation rule would be pronounced as “han-ryu.”
Due to assimilation, the ㄴ (n) in 한 (han) changes to ㄹ (l) because it is followed by ㄹ, resulting in the pronunciation “hal-lyu.” This phonological change is why 한류 is romanized as “Hallyu” rather than “Hanryu.”
Hanryu is a more direct transliteration of 한류 according to the Revised Romanization system. It reflects the original Hangeul characters more literally but does not account for pronunciation nuances. Hallyu, on the other hand, reflects the actual pronunciation influenced by phonological rules like assimilation, making it more accurate in terms of how the word is spoken in Korean.
In practical use, Hallyu is more commonly used and widely recognized internationally. It captures the pronunciation better and is more familiar to people. Hanryu might be used in more technical contexts where strict adherence to transliteration rules is required.
So, while both can be used, Hallyu is generally preferred for its accuracy in representing the spoken form of the word.
