The purpose of this research paper is to establish a preliminary phoneme inventory and major allophonic rules in Korean on the basis of transcribed forms elicited from a native informant.
First of all, in Korean consonant system, obstruents are phonologically analyzed in terms of two features, [±TENSE] and [±ASPITRATION]. Here, an allophonic rule is established in order to explain voiced allophones.
As to fricatives, Korean has two phonemes, one of which is a sibilant which also has allophones in terms of [±TENSE] feature.
Korean consonantal sonorants are nasals, liquids, and approximants. Of the three, liquids have an allophonic rule, which predicts 'flap' allophones.
Next, Korean vowel system is examined. According to the data elicited from the informant, eight vowel phonemes are identified, five of which are of cardinal quality. However, three problems (i.e., (i) the mutual exchangeability between [y] and [wi], and between [φ] and [we], (ii) the incomplete contrast between /e/ and /ε/ and (iii) the incomplete contrast in vowel length) suggest that Korean vowel system is in the process of changing.
Finally, following Kim's observation, Korean approximants are analyzed as vowel features, which enables us to conclude that Korean syllable structure is (C)V(C). And allophonic rules concerning unreleased consonants are stated in terms of this basic syllable structure.