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Seoul Foreign Language Spelling Dictionary

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Seoul Foreign Language Spelling Dictionary
Native name
서울시 외국어 표기사전
Type of site
Dictionary
Available inKorean
Founded2002 (for English)
2013 (for Chinese and Japanese)
Country of originSouth Korea
OwnerSeoul Metropolitan Government
URLdictionary.seoul.go.kr
Commercialno

The Seoul Foreign Language Spelling Dictionary (Korean: 서울시 외국어 표기사전) is a database of recommended spellings for various Korea-related concepts published by the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG). It covers things such as foods, places, and organizations, and is in the English, Japanese, and Chinese languages. The SMG uses the dictionary as a basis for standardizing spellings in Seoul, especially in publicly visible signs and menus. It was started in August 2013.[1]

Description

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A predecessor to the dictionary under the domain "englishname.seoul.go.kr" was created just for the English language in 2002.[2] In August 2013, the dictionary was expanded to include Chinese and Japanese, making it the first such standard for these two languages in the country. It was maintained by an advisory committee (서울시 외국어 표기 자문위원회), which consisted of around 30 experts (10 for each language).[3] Simplified Chinese and Japanese katakana are often used in the dictionary.[3] The dictionary covers concepts in twelve categories: administrative districts, public institutions, natural places, transport, tourist sites, shopping, food, hospitality, education, medical/welfare, press/religion, and residential. It was first published with around 80,000 terms, with 48,000 in English and 16,000 each in Japanese and Chinese.[4] Particular focus is given to concepts and places that tourists are likely to interact with.[5][6]

The recommended spellings in the dictionary are not strictly mandatory for businesses, but officials from the SMG do consult with businesses and encourage them to adopt the spellings.[5] The SMG has run multiple public campaigns in the past, wherein citizens are rewarded with cash for reporting incorrect spellings per the dictionary on government-owned signs.[7][8][9]

In 2021,[10] amidst tensions with China over the cultural identity of kimchi (vs. a similar Chinese dish pao cai), the dictionary began recommending the neologism xinqi (Chinese: 辛奇) for "kimchi", instead of the previously preferred pao cai.[1][11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b 김, 준태 (September 27, 2023). ""김치는 파오차이 아닌 신치(辛奇)" 서울시, 식당 중국어 정비". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  2. ^ ""떡볶이는 영어로 'Tteokbokki' or 'Topokki'?"". 아시아경제 (in Korean). 2013-08-04. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  3. ^ a b 기, 성훈 (2014-03-09). "서울시, 도로명주소 中·日·英 표기법 제공". 머니투데이 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  4. ^ "'떡볶이가 영어로 뭘까 궁금하다면…'". Newsis (in Korean). August 4, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2024 – via Segye Ilbo.
  5. ^ a b "인기 관광지에 어리둥절 외국어 표기…'숭례문 소득 상가?'". 머니투데이 (in Korean). 2017-10-22. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  6. ^ 최, 유희 (2015-09-24). "서울시, 잘못된 '콩글리시 표지판' 바로잡는 캠페인 추진". 뉴스포스트 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  7. ^ Chung, Esther (2021-05-16). "Spot the spelling mistake, get paid cash". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  8. ^ "서울시 "관광 표지판 외국어 오류 신고 받습니다"". Hankyung (in Korean). 2021-05-16. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  9. ^ "잘못 표기된 '외국어 안내 표지판' 신고해주세요!". mediahub.seoul.go.kr (in Korean). Seoul Metropolitan Government. August 1, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  10. ^ 김, 휘원 (2023-09-27). "명동·강남 식당, 중국어 메뉴판서 '파오차이' 지운다". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  11. ^ 권, 오균 (2023-09-27). ""김치, 중국의 '파오차이'가 아냐"…서울 음식점 메뉴판 바꾼다". 매일경제 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-07-20.
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