Where Did the English Language Come from?

Unlike most other languages, English was born out of a combination of two languages. The Anglo-Saxons, the people who settled in England during the fifth century, spoke a Germanic language we now call “Old English.”
Then in the 11th century, England was conquered by French-speaking people from Normandy, and French became the official language of England. Gradually, the two languages merged to form a new one, which we call “Middle English.” And Middle English gradually changed into modern English, the language we speak today.
During the time that Old English and French were both being spoken in England, poor farmers spoke Old English and rich landowners usually spoke French.

That’s why the words we use for animals on the farm, such as cow, sheep, pig, and calf, come from a Germanic language, while the words we use for meat at the table, such as beef, mutton, pork, and veal, come from French.

The world’s people will one day travel to Joseon to learn its language and writing.
장차 우리나라 말과 글을 세계 사람이 배워 가리라.
- English Dojeon 5:7:3 -

Edgar: What did you do last weekend?

I : I went to the dojang with my parents to attend an ancestral offering chiseong.

Edgar: Ancestral offering chiseong? What's that?

I : It’s a ritual we do for our ancestral spirits in Jeung San Do with lots of food offerings for them.

Edgar: I don't get it. What are ancestral spirits?

I : Ancestral spirits are our ancestors who once lived in this world as human beings. They passed away and became spiritual beings.

Edgar: So, where are they now? At your dojang?

I : Of course not! They live in the world of the spirits. It’s called spirit realm.

Edgar: I've never thought about those things, you know? Ancestors or spirits...So you’re saying that they really exist?

I : Yeah. they really do exist. Scientists found that there’s an “inner person” within our bodies. And it's usually called the ‘astral body’.

Edgar: Then how come I haven’t seen an astral body in my entire 12-year life?

I : You can't. It's not like the physical body. But everybody has it.

Edgar: What? You mean that everyone has physical body and astral body?

I : Exactly! And when you practice meditation everyday, you can open your spiritual eye and see those spirits. In fact, I see one behind you!

Edgar: OMG! That scared me. Don’t do that. I don't want to see spirits.

I : Hahaha. There's nothing to be scared of, Edgar. Spirits are just like human beings without physical body. Besides, you'll become a spirit, too, after you die.

Edgar: I know it’s Halloween but seriously, you should stop.

I : As you wish~

After Death

Everyone possesses both a heavenly soul (혼, 魂) and an earthly soul (넋, 魄). After death, the heavenly soul ascends to heaven and becomes a spirit (신, 神).
After receiving ancestral rituals from four generations of descendants, the spirit might then become a radiant being (영, 靈) or even an immortal being (선, 仙).
After death, the earthly soul returns to earth and, after four generations, becomes a ghostly being (귀, 鬼).
-English Dojeon 2:89:2~4

영체 : astral body [ǽstrəl bάdi]
육체 : physical body [fízikəl bάdi]
혼줄 : spiritual cord [spíriʧuəl kɔːrd]
혼(魂) : heavenly soul [hévənli soul]
넋(魄) : earthly soul [ə́ːrθli soul]
신(神) : spirit [spírit]
영(靈) : radiant being [réidiənt bíːiŋ]
선(仙) : immortal being [imɔ́ːrtl bíːiŋ]