Study on Error Patterns of Initial Law in the Sino-Korean Compound Word Orthography for Native Chinese Speakers

This study investigates the error patterns when native Chinese speakers apply the Initial Law in Sino-Korean compound word writing. A survey of 30 participants was conducted using 60 words selected from “연세 한국어” and “서울대 한국어”, covering the law's basic clauses and exceptions. The results highlighted three key trends: First, better understanding of the Initial Law correlated with fewer errors. Second, insufficient structured education led to higher error rates. Third, higher error rates were linked with stronger recognition of the need for Initial Law education. Seven primary issues were identified: lack of understanding of the Initial Law's basic clauses, errors with prefixes and compound words, over-application of the law, preference for original sounds, difficulty distinguishing bound nouns, influence of phonological changes, and confusion with 율/률 rules. This study offers a systematic analysis of these error patterns, providing valuable insights for Korean language education and improvement of instructional methods for native Chinese learners.