Current Events > Do north Koreans and south Koreans speak the same exact language?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Obviously I assume it's the same language, but are there different dialects or anything like that?

And does anyone have extensive knowledge of their cultures, enough to tell me what each side thinks of each other? Not their respective governments, but the actual citizenry?
---

North Koreans are literally raised from birth thinking every other country wants to kill them.
---

I've heard there are differences in dialect, including North Korean being spoken more formally.
---

Duncanwii posted...

North Koreans are literally raised from birth thinking every other country wants to kill them.

Sure but they also sneak in South Korean media and watch their shows and listen to their music, so most don't believe the lies they're fed.
---

No they do not. South Koreans use lots of foreign loan words, like the word for bread is a loan word from the French word for bread. Or a Bacon Cheese Burger, is basically just that. In North Korea, not at all. They haven't had the outside world to influence their language in the same way.
---

deenoona posted...

No they do not. South Koreans use lots of foreign loan words, like the word for bread is a loan word from the French word for bread. Or a Bacon Cheese Burger, is basically just that. In North Korea, not at all. They haven't had the outside world to influence their language in the same way.

Ah of course, great insight into how isolation can alter the evolution of culture.
---

nicklebro posted...

Duncanwii posted...

North Koreans are literally raised from birth thinking every other country wants to kill them.

Sure but they also sneak in South Korean media and watch their shows and listen to their music, so most don't believe the lies they're fed.

Not everyone watches that shit and you have to worry that everyone around you will snitch on you if they know you have it.

I know more and more media is being smuggled into the country but North Korea will throw your ass along with 3 generations of your family into a gulag for life if you get caught with any of that stuff.
---

it's mostly the same. they can communicate with each other just fine.
---

MuayThai85 posted...

nicklebro posted...

Duncanwii posted...

North Koreans are literally raised from birth thinking every other country wants to kill them.

Sure but they also sneak in South Korean media and watch their shows and listen to their music, so most don't believe the lies they're fed.

Not everyone watches that shit and you have to worry that everyone around you will snitch on you if they know you have it.

I know more and more media is being smuggled into the country but North Korea will throw your ass along with 3 generations of your family into a gulag for life if you get caught with any of that stuff.

Yeah I know, crazy. I heard one defector saying how she had to make her own personal theater by covering the TV with a sheet and putting her head under the sheet to watch it like that, on super low volume. Crazy that they would even risk it with such dire consequences but it really shows just how powerful a culture of freedom can be to the enslaved.
---

What about east and west koreans
---

They have hate-boners for South Korea and America. Government propaganda since the war. Most other countries they are pretty chill with. They really like the Irish. As for NK's citizenry, they "tow the company line" when they know they are being watched, and they are very careful about what the say even in the company of trusted friends. When starvation is the order of the day, your best friend will rat you out for a loaf of bread for their kids. They know what the score is, but also know there is not really anything that they can do about it.
---

I don't think they've been separated long enough for significant divergence in language, but it'll basically be a different dialect.
---

It's the same language with pretty obvious differences. South Korea uses a bunch of loanwords whereas North Korea makes them up.

I recommend you watch the "Geography Now!" video of North Korea:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00QUYoZHnH8

It's fun and accurate, maybe if you're interested watch the South Korea video too.
---