I saw this in my feed and I'm desperately trying to avoid the blank page of the next section of my show bible, so I thought this would be something worth teasing out some nuance out of. https://twitter.com/komoonyoungs/status/1315131524459634689

There's a lot tied up in both the statement in the retweet and in what they retweeted as well, so let's pull it apart a little and figure out what's going on.

Before I jump into this, I'm a Korean American, so I have a particular viewpoint about this that won't necessarily be shared by mainland Koreans--I am naturally going to be more sensitive of cross cultural issues because of my position.

Let's begin with the original tweet's premise: First of all there's a discussion being had here about whether it's right to use words of another language outside the context of speaking that language on the whole.

From what I can tell from following the thread, the context is specifically using familial Korean words like "oppa/unni/nuna/hyung" to refer to your siblings, although you're not speaking Korean on the whole.

From this, initial responder makes an argument that it's okay, because it's used according to its meaning and that no one "owns" the words.

The second quote/retweet combo points out that language is often tied to culture and there might be a bit of inappropriate cultural appropriation going on here in the given context.

The core of the argument here is whether words are cultural, and whether culture can be owned.

To begin with, there is a lot of nuance here that needs to be teased out, but let's start with expectations and norms.

We'll first eliminate situations that are clearly wrong:

1) Speaking to a person in a language they don't understand, if you share a language in common. There is an unspoken expectation of communication that, when you are speaking with someone, you are trying to communicate.

If you choose to speak to a person in a language they don't understand, without their consent to be spoken to as such, then you are violating a pretty common social contract that exists between us.

I'm pointing this out because it's related the conversation of what's going on. If you have two non-Korean speaking siblings and one of them learns a Korean word and uses it with the other sibling, who does not speak Korean, even if the word is used correctly, this is wrong.

Even if you explain the meaning of the word to the sibling, so they understand the meaning, the language of communication between them is not Korean, and therefore using a Korean word would be inappropriate at least in present context.

Now, if we imagine a future where #kdrama has had such an impact on this person's locality that the sibling words became common terms in their own language, I think this would be fine--it's now a part of the speaker and listener's language too.

Now let's point out a situation that's entirely appropriate to use the word in this context: Both siblings are learning Korean. In this case, since both parties are also Korean-speakers (or aspiring Korean speakers), it should be expected that appropriate words are used.

I think this stuff is pretty clear cut. Between two people: You speak the language that you best have in common unless one is learning the language of the other. (Or you are both learning the language.)

But beyond just the violation of social contract when one sibling speaks to another using a Korean word when it's not their shared language, there's something more happening here with the #kdrama fan sibling. And that's *why* they are using that word.

So, let's hypothesize the scenario where both siblings understand the word because one is a #kdrama fan and has explained it. The other sibling has consented to being called by the word, despite having no interest in Korean.

What is going on here with the #kdrama fan?

Why do they want to use the word with someone who isn't interested in learning Korean, even if they are fine with being called that word?

I can only guess that it comes down to a matter of identification. #kdrama is such a significant part of the fan's identity that they feel a desire to express their interest in Korean dramas (and Korean culture) by using Korean words.

The use of Korean words in this case, helps them feel more like they are a part of Korean culture. This is perhaps the lingual equivalent of wearing a hanbok. It's something so distinctly Korean that using it out of context is like demonstrating their closeness with the culture.

However, this #kdrama fan isn't Korean. And the use of the word isn't for precision's sake, since it's used out of context. It's used basically as a costume. And this is where it gets messy.

So let's just get started by breaking the false equivalences of using Korean out of context and loanwords. There is a distinct difference, for example of a Korean's use of the word "화이팅" (fighting) and a non-Korean's use of the word "oppa".

To make it simple to understand, despite the origin of the Konglish word "fighting" being English, in context it's a Korean word now. You say it to any Korean, they understand it. Same with any loanword.

However, injecting the word "oppa" into your English doesn't suddenly make it part of the language. For that to happen, a significant part of your English speaking locality would also have an understanding of the word.

So, it's now clear that what's happening in this particular instance of this #kdrama fan's use of English is using the language as a costume of Korean culture.

And this is where I think a rightful claim of inappropriate cultural appropriation can be claimed. Although the #kdrama fan knows some things about Korean culture, it is not their culture.

In addition, their perception of the culture is through a particular lens into that culture that isn't holistic. Which is to say that the perception isn't complete.

You know those gross pictures of mostly white college students (or, God-forbid), adults having "culture" parties where they dress up in costumes from cultures not their own?

This is what's being done here. Yes, it might be a "positive" reception of the culture, but its an essentializing of the culture and use of the culture to one's own end.

And, in that sense, it's disrespectful of the culture.

That's not to say that there aren't situations where it's entirely appropriate for a #kdrama fan to use Korean words beyond with a fellow Korean-learning sibling.

But it's looking at the *why* the word is being used that shows where it's appropriate or not. For example, if you're in Korea and speaking with a close Korean friend, it's cool. If you're with other Korean learners who are you close with, also cool.

But it's important to be mindful of who you're using the words with and why. [end]