전통몽골문 교육의 현황과 당면 과제 ― 한중일의 몽골어 교육을 중심으로 ―

Abstract

With over 800 years of history, the traditional Mongolian script has been regarded as a symbol of the Mongolian people's linguistic and cultural pride. Since the 1930s, following the advent of socialism, Mongolia has adopted Cyrillic Mongolian, utilizing the Cyrillic alphabet from Russia. Since transitioning to a democratic society in the 1990s, Mongolia has made various efforts to reinstate its ethnic identity and heritage by implementing educational policies and legislation to use the traditional Mongolian script alongside Cyrillic Mongolian. Starting January 1, 2025, a law will be enacted requiring all official documents in Mongolia to be bilingual, using both Cyrillic and traditional Mongolian scripts. Mongolia's designation of the traditional Mongolian script as an official national script is not only aimed at solidifying the native language and national identity of Mongolians. Still, it is also a significant matter for scholars researching Mongolian studies. In-depth studies in areas such as Mongolian language, history, folklore, literature, and culture necessitate the examination of materials recorded in the traditional Mongolian script. This paper examines the curriculum and regulations of traditional Mongolian courses currently implemented in universities and institutions in Mongolia, China, Japan, and Korea, focusing on basic textbooks for traditional Mongolian. The findings reveal that traditional Mongolian script education has been systematically included in the curriculum in Inner Mongolia, China, and Japan. In Korea, it was found that Dankook University and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies offer traditional Mongolian courses in the first and second semesters of the second year. Additionally, it was noted that Mongolian studies departments in Japan are established in national universities, whereas in Korea, they are run by private universities. Although it is challenging to place Mongolian language education in Korea, China, and Japan on the same level, future Mongolian language education in Korea should advance towards comprehensive learning of Cyrillic Mongolian along with an understanding of the traditional Mongolian script, especially when compared to other countries.