In the beginning God spoke the subject and the verb
“God created man in his own image. -Genesis 1:27
The author of Genesis states in Chapter 1 that God created man in His own image. This means that originally, we were all created to resemble God. However, it’s possible that humanity has gradually drifted away from this image through repeated sinning. Therefore, the following biblical passage emphasizes the need to find a new self in order to restore God’s image.
You have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. – Colossians 3:9-10
The old self is clothed in anger, wrath, malice, slander, and lies, while the new self, in the image of God, is characterized by compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. Moreover, it teaches that by loving one another, we can regain our perfect form.
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. – Colossians 3:14
In a classic Korean comedy show, “Gag Concert,” there’s a funny bit where a comedian says, “I/a red light/for running/a ticket/got,” making fun of how English sentences might sound if directly translated into Korean. He’s jokingly rearranging the words to mimic Korean structure, but what he means is, “I got a ticket for running a red light.” This gag highlights the differences in sentence construction between English and Korean.
Similarly, translating a Bible verse into this humorous, mixed-up style might give us “(God/in His own image/man/created/).” This mirrors the sort of humor you’d find on “Gag Concert.” Although it sounds awkward, it reflects the unique way Korean sentences are structured.
Let’s take a look at a verse from the Bible, specifically Deuteronomy 8:2, which says, “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years.” In Korean, the structure of this sentence might change to emphasize the time (“These forty years”) more than the place (“in the desert”), looking something like: “LORD your God/These forty years/you/all the way in the desert/led/Remember.“
This change in the order of words might confuse native English speakers, just as native Korean speakers might find the typical English structure challenging at first.
When learning English, it’s essential for Korean speakers to adapt to the typical English sentence structure. We previously discussed this in the context of the phrase “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Following this, English sentences usually continue to clarify further details, answering any arising questions.
English often builds on this by answering subsequent questions. The usual English sentence pattern is: Subject + Verb + (Who?) + (What?) + (Where?) + (Why?) + (How?) + (When?). This Single Pattern English Sentence Order follows a method similar to the journalistic 5W1H approach (Who, What, Where, Why, When, How).
S + V+ (Who + What) + [Where+Why+How+When]
For instance, after stating “God created,” an English sentence might then detail “What?” was created (like “the heavens and the earth”) and “When?” it was created (like “in the beginning”). This methodical way of adding information aims to address the reader’s or listener’s questions effectively and clearly.
Of course, it’s a bit of a stretch to define the numerous patterns of English with just one formula. The order can change depending on what the speaker wants to emphasize or grammatical usage. Despite these many exceptions, it’s generally common for English expressions to follow the order mentioned above. Knowing the principle allows us to recognize the exceptions. Anyway, let’s refer to this characteristic of English as the second principle, prioritizing it and giving it the nickname “The Principle of Clarifying Curiosity.” This is because English typically constructs sentences in a syntax that gradually resolves curiosity.
The 2nd Principle of English (The Principle of Clarifying Curiosity): English resolves curiosity in a sequential order after drawing a conclusion.
The 3rd Principle of English: Principle of Starting with Simplicity
A notable feature of English that Korean learners may observe is its clarity and logic. One reason for this clarity is the straightforward presentation of the subject and verb at the beginning of sentences, followed by additional explanations. This fundamental structure plays a crucial role in conveying the intended meaning, thanks to a consistent and regular order of words.
Another reason English appears clear and logical is its tendency to present shorter, more specific information first, followed by longer, more general details. This means starting with the simplest pieces of information and introducing more complex details later. This approach reflects a thought process that prioritizes conclusions before fleshing them out with further information. We can refer to this as Principle of Starting with Simplicity. English communication often begins with the most straightforward details, gradually incorporating more intricate explanations.
Consider the Bible verse about Joseph in Luke 23:50:
“Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man.”
The verse from Luke 23:50 introduces us to Joseph, a respected member of the Council and a virtuous man who took care of Jesus’ funeral arrangements. English narratives, as illustrated here, typically start with a basic introduction, such as ‘Now there was a man.’ While this might seem too simplistic for those familiar with Korean structures, it serves to clearly set the scene. The narrative then builds on this foundation by identifying the man as Joseph and adding layers of detail to flesh out his character and actions.
Another example can be found in 1 Corinthians 2:7, which states, ‘We speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden.’ Here, the sentence begins with a straightforward assertion about ‘God’s secret wisdom.’ What follows is an expansion that clarifies this wisdom as being previously concealed. This technique, starting with an unambiguous statement and gradually incorporating additional information, is a common practice in English to ensure clarity and add depth to the narrative.
This characteristic of English sentence construction can be termed the “Principle of Starting with Simplicity.” It entails initiating sentences with straightforward words or phrases and then gradually introducing more intricate expressions.
The 3rd Principle of English (Starting with Simplicity): English involves beginning sentences with simple words or phrases, then progressively adding more complex expressions.
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