Kim, young ok. 2015. A study on は(ha) at the middle or end of the word in Japanese language textbooks during the Chosun Dynasty. Language Information. Volume 21. 27-40. This study examines the は(ha) at the middle or end of the word in Japanese language textbooks during the Chosun Dynasty based on a review of Japanese and Christian literature. In the 15th century text book, 『Iropa』, は(ha) at the middle or end of the word was written as ‘わ(wa), い(i), う(u), え(e), お(0)’ as it sounded, but was written as ‘は(ha)’ only at ‘候はは’. In the 17th century text book, the original version of 『Cheopheasineo』, it was written as it sounded such as ‘わ(wa), い(i), う(u), え(e), お (o)’ like in 『Iropa』. However, ‘は(ha)’ at the middle of the word was written as ‘は(ha)’ in the later part of the 9th volume of the original version of 『Cheopheasineo』 where names of 8 provinces and 6 states in Japan were written. It was written as ‘は(ha)’ where a postposition located in letters of the10th volume and the later part of the 9th volume of the revised version of 『Cheopheasineo』, which was the 18th century text book. Based on above analyses, the official interpreter at the time was likely to voice ‘は’ at the middle or end of the word as ‘わ(wa)’, but wrote it as ‘は(ha).’ It shows that they knew correctly Japanese in both phonology and writing. Why was it written as it sounds in case of conversation in the same textbook? The reason might be that official interpreters’ purpose of study was mainly ‘speaking’ rather than ‘writing.’ It was written as it sounded in conversation to help people learn speaking more easily. In other words, it was not the error that foreign writers wrote as it sounded as previous studies argued but for the purpose of education despite their knowledge of the difference of pronunciation and writing.
key words : Japanese language textbooks, Chosun Dynasty, は(ha) at the middle or end of the word, purpose of study.