By John Redmond
Peter Liptak and Siwoo Lee, authors of the book on Korean slang “As Much As A Rat’s Tail,” have announced the launch of their “Kickstarter” campaign.
It aims to share the intricacies of Korean slang and culture not found in any textbooks by not only getting the newly edited second edition published, but also by adding an e-book version on May 9.
“Every language desperately needs this kind of book; the kind of book that teaches how people really use the language. And while slang is not entirely academic, it is far more communicative and useful for engaging in a new language than the stilted artificial textbooks normally stuffed down the throats of learners,” said Liptak.
“With the goal of teaching the wonderfully versatile and totally day-to-day relevant slang that will allow people to be welcomed into the culture, we are delivering the secrets of the street; the true language of Seoul; and helping people understand how Koreans think, act and speak,” he said.
The first edition of “As Much As A Rat’s Tail” began to take shape in 2003, and within two years, the authors had developed a concept that was really a first in Korea.
But since slang changes dramatically over even a short time, and the cross-cultural pollination of Western and Korean pop culture has accelerated exponentially since 2003.
“So we decided that a major update was in order; the new edition will have a snappy new cover, updated expressions and overall redesign. We even developed a whole set of flash cards to go along with the book,” Liptak said.
He added, “It’s about the poetry of language; it’s about interpersonal relationships, drinking, smoking, partying, texting, swearing and, well, so much more.”
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/AsMuchAsARatSTail/info.