雙語達人:英女生為學韓語 手術拉長舌頭

英國一名19歲的女生因痴迷韓國文化而苦學韓語，但是因為舌頭比一般人短，致使她韓語發音一直不能很地道，為此，她特意通過外科手術將舌頭拉長。據悉，這名女生兩年前通過同學接觸韓國流行文化和電視節目後開始痴迷，苦學兩年韓語後已經達到了很高的水平，但是因為舌頭天生偏短，她一直不能很好的發出韓語裏的L這個音。諮詢過語言導師並徵得父母同意後，她進行了舌繫帶切開術，舌頭長度由此增加了1釐米，原來不可能發出來的音，現在都能發得很好。目前，她正在等待A-level考試（類似於國內高考）成績，希望能進入謝菲爾德大學學習韓國研究與工商管理課程，因為這個課程有一年是要去韓國首都首爾的一所大學完成的。

Student Rhiannon Brooksbank-Jones dreams of living and working in South Korea once she finishes university, even though she has never visited the country.

But while taking language lessons, the 19-year-old found that she couldn't pronounce certain crucial sounds in the Korean alphabet.

Her dentist suggested it may be because she was born with a slightly shorter than average tongue, caused by having an unusually thick lingual frenulum - the flap of skin that joins the underside of the tongue to the floor of the Mouth.

After discussing the matter with her parents and language tutor, Rhiannon decided to undergo an operation to correct the condition, despite the fact it has never caused her any problems in speaking English.

She underwent a lingual frenectomy, which involves making an incision in the flap of skin. As a result, Rhiannon's tongue is now about 1cm longer, and she can say words that were impossible before.

Rhiannon, of Beeston, Nottingham, said: 'I'd been learning Korean for about two years, and my speaking level is now high, but I was really struggling with particular sounds.

' It became apparent after a little while that I was having trouble with the Korean letter 'L', which is very frequent and comes from a slightly higher place in the mouth than the English 'L', and that my tongue was too short.

' My pronunciation was very 'foreign', but now I can speak with a native Korean accent. The surgical procedure was my only option. It's not like you can stretch your tongue otherwise. I just decided enough was enough.

' For me it was an important thing, because I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and if I can't do it perfectly, it really irritates me.

Rhiannon is currently awaiting her A-level results, and hoping to study Korean Studies and Business Management at the University of Sheffield.

The four-year course includes a year at Yonsei University in the South Korean capital, Seoul.

She added: 'I think this will show real dedication. It will prove I'm not just going to drop out after a year.

' In Korea they like good students, and I think having my tongue lengthened will be a real help with the course, especially during my year in Seoul.

' Native English speakers can earn quite a lot of money in Korea, so that's another option.'

Rhiannon became interested in the Asian nation's culture through a friend at school.

The teenager said: 'She was into Korean pop and television programmes, which I would listen to and watch at her house.

' Most of my free time was soon taken up with Korean things. Now I visit a Korean Church in Nottingham, where I do bible readings in Korean, and can't wait to visit the country itself.

Rhiannon's mother, Fiona Brooksbank-Jones, 56, said she supported her daughter in undergoing the procedure.

She added: 'As her parents, we welcome her interest in other parts of the world, and are very proud of her.

' I've heard of people having the condition corrected as babies, but never later in life. But we looked into it, and have backed her all the way.

' When she sets her mind to something, she usually goes for it wholeheartedly, and this was no different.'