• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.197-213
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• 2005

There are not a few mathematical terms used as the undefined terms in school mathematics. The purpose of this study is to investigate critically the undefined mathematical terms in elementary school mathematics textbooks of Korea. As the result, the following suggestions are proposed. Firstly, It is not proper to use the terms which mathematics curriculum does not allow to use in elementary school math as the undefined terms in elementary school mathematics textbooks. Secondly, everyday-based undefined terms must be defined in elementary school mathematics textbook if their mathematical meanings are different from their everyday-based meanings. Thirdly, we need to consider the consistency when we use the undefined terms in elementary school mathematics. Fourthly, undefined terms should be define newly when the contexts in which they are used are changed or expanded. Finally, in elementary school mathematics textbooks, it is needed to define some purely mathematical undefined terms that there is no evidence which shows students grasp well their meaning.

• School Mathematics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2005

In this paper, some characteristics of actual state of school mathematics terms in north Korean mathematics textbooks, which were issued in 2000-2002, are discussed. In north Korea, terms are expressed in north Korean orthography. Many Chinese style terms are translated into pure Korean terms, but there are still so many Chinese style terms. It is known that there is deep gap between north and south Korean terms. But actually it is not. This means that integration of north and south Korean terms can be easily realized. It is known that translating Chinese style terms into pure Korean term can be useful in mathematics teaching and learning, but north Korean experiences tell that we should act with prudence in doing so. We need sufficient discussion in case of north Korean terms which are totally different with south Korean terms. Semantical analysis is needed with preference survey.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.227-246
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• 2003

In this paper, some terms of high school mathematics which read Chinese characters phonetically in Hangul are studied semantically. Nowadays, most terms of high school mathematics are terms of Chinese characters given the reading of them in Hangul alphabet. In such terms of Chinese characters, there are many loan-words from daily life and newly coined terms. Some such terms are examined in respect of meaningfulness and rule-ness. The degree of meaningfulness and rule-ness of loan-words from daily life are relative. Students seems familiar to loan-words usually, but it is difficult to know whether students seems to be familiar to loan-words or not. Degree of familiarity to a certain loan-word must be relative. In loan-words, there are such terms whose mathematical meaning is different from daily life meaning. Such terms are strong in rule-ness. Newly coined terms are strong in rule-ness. Students are not familiar to newly coined terms which are not used in daily life and have only mathematical meaning. In coining new terms using Chinese character, unit characters are related directly or indirectly to concept which unit characters want to express. So, It is possible to guess something unit characters want to express by investigating them. According to Vinner(1991), images can be evoked. But in case of reading Chinese characters phonetically in Hangul, it can not be guaranteed for Hangul mathematical terms to evoke images which the original mathematical terms evoked. To solve such problems semantic investigation of mathematical terms has been suggested. Through this process, transplanting images which the original mathematical terms evoked into Hangul terms are planned.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.291-308
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• 2017

In 1946, many native korean mathematical terms are coined newly by the ministry of education of USAMGIK(the United States Army Military Government in Korea) through referring to the opinions of various circles. In native korean mathematical terms created at the time, many of them are coined, either by using native korean words corresponding to the meaning of chines characters, or by abbreviating newly coined native korean mathematical terms. However, in less than 20 years, about half of native korean mathematical terms made in 1946~1947 has been went back to chines character mathematical terms, and most of those chines character mathematical terms has been used up to now from then. Although, in the teaching and learning of mathematics, the discomfort of chinese characters mathematical terms is pointed out and it is claimed that the use of native korean mathematical terms is helpful, it is not everything to hurry to use native korean mathematical terms. Attempts to convert chinese characters mathematical terms into native korean mathematical terms should be prudent. When a certain native korean mathematical term is used, if it must be used only because it is a native korean mathematical term, then the term has no choice but to fail. In this paper, we propose the following three implications as conclusions for the successful use of native korean mathematical terms in this viewpoint. First, attempts to coin native korean mathematical terms should be continued. Second, it is necessary to identify the survival power of well-preserved native korean mathematical terms. Third, it is necessary to identify the failure factors of native korean mathematical terms which does not survive today.

• School Mathematics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.61-77
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• 2010

Understanding of mathematical terms plays one of the key factors in understanding and utilizing related mathematical contents. In order to understand such terms well, it is necessary to define and use them appropriately. In this study, we first investigate specific instances of inappropriate using or representing mathematical terms in elementary school mathematics textbooks from a mathematical point of view and a consistent point of view. We then suggest implications for using and representing such mathematical terms appropriately.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.179-225
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to revise the previous mathematics glossary Since the last mathematics glossary was published by MOE in 1937, there have been two curriculum revisions. As a result, many terms which are newly included in the curriculum are not specified in the mathematics glossary. Moreover, part of mathematics terms and the informations about mathematicians and mathematics educators in mathematics glossary are not correct. Thus the revision of the mathematics glossary is definitely necessary. To collect the opinions about mathematics terms, a large scale survey targeting mathematics education researchers and mathematics teachers was conducted and the subsequent meetings were held. Also, the studies regarding mathematics terminology were thoroughly reviewed to provide the direction of desirable mathematics terms. Reflecting all these informations, the draft of the new mathematics glossary was completed.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.121-138
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• 2016

Most of elementary and secondary school mathematical terms in Korean are Sino-Korean words. We check Chinese characters relating to such Sino-Korean words by using Chinese dictionaries, and critically judge how much we can understand Sino-Korean words by Chinese characters. Through this search, we classify Sino-Korean words into three categories; words which can be understood by Chinese characters, words which can not be understood by Chinese characters, words which are misunderstood by Chinese characters.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.335-353
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics and types of errors in the conceptual image of Korean language learners according to the types of terms in mathematics that are the basis for solving mathematical word problems, and to prepare basic data for effective teaching and learning methods in solving the word problems of Korean language learners. To do this, a case study was conducted targeting four Korean language learners to analyze the specific conceptual images of terms registered in curriculum and terms that were not registered in curriculum but used in textbooks. As a result of this study, first, it is necessary to guide Korean language learners by using sufficient visualization material so that they can form appropriate conceptual definitions for terms in school mathematics. Second, it is necessary to understand the specific relationship between the language used in the home of Korean language learners and the conceptual image of terms in school mathematics. Third, it is necessary to pay attention to the passive term, which has difficulty in understanding the meaning rather than the active term. Fourth, even for Korean language learners who do not have difficulties in daily communication, it is necessary to instruct them on everyday language that are not registered in the curriculum but used in math textbooks. Fifth, terms in school mathematics should be taught in consideration of the types of errors that reflect the linguistic characteristics of Korean language learners shown in the explanation of terms. This recognition is expected to be helpful in teaching word problem solving for Korean language learners with different linguistic backgrounds.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2023

Since mathematical concepts are learned through the meaning of mathematical terms in school mathematics, learners must understand and use mathematical terms appropriately. However, the meaning of mathematical terms used in real life may be perceived differently from elementary mathematics textbooks, and this difference may cause confusion in learners' understanding of mathematical terms. Therefore, this study was intended to compare and analyze the mathematical terms in elementary mathematics textbooks used in Korea and a Korean dictionary. The findings revealed that the meaning of the textbooks was similar or different, and the subject indicated by each meaning was different. In this case, in order to prevent confusion among learners, it is necessary to supplement and guide each meaning by recognizing the difference between the mathematical terms in elementary mathematics textbooks used in Korea and a Korean dictionary.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.429-444
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• 2012

As one of the trials for a systematic approach to mathematics terms which occupies an important place in teaching and learning mathematics, compositions of listed terms in 2011 elementary mathematics curriculum in Korea are discussed in this study. To this end, listed terms are classified in view of three points and looked for their characteristics, from which implications are found out for elementary mathematics teaching and learning First of all classifications into grade-group and domain-specific terms, then into newly coined terms and terms from everyday life, and then into korean terms and chinese character terms and english terms are attempted. Next, terms with a kernel and terms without a kernel are distinguished, and in this process, term-sets are presented. Finally, object terms, operation terms, relationship terms, measure terms, conditions terms, graphics terms, name terms are classified. Based on these results, the following implications for elementary mathematics teaching and learning are suggested. First, it should be considered that many of the listed terms in 2011 curriculum are newly coined and chinese character terms. Second, the interconnections between terms should be considered. Third, a variety of roles and functions of the terms should be considered.