Kimchi probably tastes better

[k-yunhopop.livejournal.com]

Student obsessed with Korean culture has tongue surgically lengthened on NHS to help her speak the language

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.

'Some might say it's extreme, but you could apply the same argument to plastic surgery.

'That makes people feel more confident looks-wise, and this made me feel more confident language-wise. For me, it was like having a tooth pulled.'

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.

'I'd love to live and work in Korea one day and being able to speak perfectly will really benefit me.

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

The 20-minute operation was carried out at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre under local anaesthetic.

Being born with an unusually thick lingual frenulum - a condition known as Ankyloglossia, or commonly as 'Tongue Tie' - meant Rhiannon qualified for the procedure on the NHS.

She said: 'I was a bit nervous, and it was agony at first, but healed within two weeks, and I noticed the difference instantly. Suddenly I was able to pronounce words I had no hope of before.'

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.

'Korean people can be quite reserved at first, but once you get to know them, they are very warmhearted. They'll do anything for you.'

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.' 

Source: dailymail

Comments

[gardenintheair.livejournal.com]

So, as they say, impossible is nothing.

[nissy-angel.livejournal.com]

damn this reminds me that my A level result is coming out soon TT.TT

[drfaith101.livejournal.com]

Next thursday! Good luck!!!

[kawaiiairbender.livejournal.com]

what i don't... okay girl do you.
also, she is cute

I'm glad she can pronounce words though, i know it can be frustrating not being able too

[kishikiari.livejournal.com]

weirdo

[ta-tow.livejournal.com]

she just wanted a lesbian tongue

[seobyo.livejournal.com]

wow her dedication is amazing

[kawaiiairbender.livejournal.com]

yeah it is, bc if someone told me i could speak a langauge like a native instead of a foreigner if i had surgery. I'd be like

(http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f161/sanriochica333/?action=view&current=sideeye.gif)

[nandexdame.livejournal.com]

The NHS paid for that? Dang, anyone in the UK looking to get married?

[devilstay.livejournal.com]

lol! No. I've already had the offers, for the exact same reasons.

[k0dama.livejournal.com]

wow, dedication.

Though I can't say I haven't considered it when I discovered I cannot roll my Spanish Rs.

[sol-superstar.livejournal.com]

Urgh same. Godamn rolly Rs.

[sol-superstar.livejournal.com]

lol she's from my home city.

I bet she's a kpop fan.

[kawaiiairbender.livejournal.com]

probably she got an introduction from a friend who was into kpop

[wushuhimexx.livejournal.com]

[tree-star123.livejournal.com]

D:

[asiapopsecret.livejournal.com]

:l Idk about this... How does she know if she'll like it in Korea? Reading about a culture, and actually living it are different things.

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

mte

[aj-123.livejournal.com]

gurlll it is not that serious

[bolingi-aii.livejournal.com]

LOLOLOLOLOLOL She is on something else.

[jongcy.livejournal.com]

Sounds like it made a big, positive impact in her life and future plans, so good for her.

[drfaith101.livejournal.com]

Dedication and a half.

[chunsakuma.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, but this is the stupidest fucking thing I have ever heard. The Korean l/r (ㄹ) was the first of the Korean sounds that don't exist in English that I learned how to pronounce; it's not that hard. The stressed consonants (ㅃ, ㅉ, ㄸ, ㄲ, ㅆ) are much more difficult.

This is beyond unnecessary, since I'm sure there are people in Korea who are also tongue-tied, and I'd be willing to bet that most if not all of them have no issue with their pronunciation. To me, it actually shows the opposite of whatever character she thinks she's showing. If you can't get a certain sound right, you practice until you can. THAT is dedication.

[kawaiiairbender.livejournal.com]

it's not that hard for you but obviously it was for her.

You don't think certain things are impossible and might take more drastic measures. Have you ever worked with someone with any type of speech impediment?

[strawberry-efeu.livejournal.com]

The funny part is that Korean people have the same surgery in order to be able to pronounce English better :P Either way it's pretty much a scam.

[kawaiiairbender.livejournal.com]

really? oops

[taylorniw.livejournal.com]

Hyoyeon should consider this.

[mentality34.livejournal.com]

lolol

[devilstay.livejournal.com]

lol! I was hoping she wouldn't be from here, but...I guess each to their own.

[aloakley.livejournal.com]

well nice to know where my NI contributions are going :/

[suwillgetu.livejournal.com]

She's been taking it for 2 years and she can speak it with a native accent? Keep telling yourself that...

[chunsakuma.livejournal.com]

LOL mte.

[mandyyy.livejournal.com]

What are people freaking out about? This is a normal procedure. Granted most parents get this done when you're still a baby, I don't see what the big deal is. At least she's not getting plastic surgery to become more "beautiful". Get your priorities in order people.

[firebomber.livejournal.com]

For real. I have a problem with my tongue as well and being able to afford to fix it would probably affect my speech in a positive way, and would definitely fix my smile. Obviously, it wasn't that huge of a surgery if it only took 20 minutes. I question her reasoning behind the surgery, but it's not something drastic like trying to make herself look more Korean or something, which I'm sure happens as well. *shrugs*

[walkin-siesta.livejournal.com]

'Korean people can be quite reserved at first, but once you get to know them, they are very warmhearted. They'll do anything for you.'
holy bias o_O

actually what i've read about korea makes me NOT want to live there..visiting? heck yes. drooling after its entertainers? mm yes. but living there? no,thanks

[jaded-skys.livejournal.com]

To be honest, it's just the same as living anywhere. There's good, there's bad, and for most people good out weighs the bad. I love living in Seoul, and yeah, bad shit happens but a lot more great things have happened. It's like saying "I could never live in the USA, everyone has guns and gets shot and everyone gets so fat," and taking that a 100% truth. I can vouch that Korean people in Korea can be really reserved if you know nothing of the country or language, but if you're open and try to understand the culture most people are very nice and honestly want to help you if you need it. I wouldn't say "they'll do anything for you" though.

[whynotplay.livejournal.com]

well at least she has goals

[xredada.livejournal.com]

I swear some Korean parents get this done for their children to help them speak English?

Oh and lol @ Daily Mail, they make everything sounds extremely dramatic. Just cutting a flap under her tongue as suggested by her Dentist. No biggie.

[strawberry-efeu.livejournal.com]

Yes, they do. It's kind of ironic.

[magicpineapple.livejournal.com]

I've had that procedure done on my tongue. In all honesty there's still some words (the rolling R's in Spanish, for example) that I have trouble with... But, I can speak English without as much trouble. lol She's a bit old to have the procedure done, though, unless it wasn't hurting her English pronunciation?