Saebat Korean refers to the Korean language used during the late 17th to early 19th centuries in the western part of the Korean Peninsula. It is also known as Western Joseon Korean or Early Modern Korean. Saebat Korean is significant for its influence on the development of modern Korean language and culture.
This linguistic variant originated during the Joseon Dynasty and was used mainly by scholars and intellectuals. It served as the de facto official language and was influenced by Chinese characters and classical Chinese texts. Saebat Korean played a crucial role in the development of Korean literature, poetry, and philosophy during this period.
The distinguishing features of Saebat Korean include its vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. It demonstrated a higher level of literary expression compared to other regional dialects. Saebat Korean heavily relied on Chinese loanwords and incorporated Chinese-based constructs into its grammar system.
Despite its decline in usage after the 19th century, the impact of Saebat Korean can still be observed in contemporary Korean language and culture. It laid the foundation for the standardization and modernization of the Korean language, shaping its written and spoken forms as we know them today.
