In which cases does pronunciation change when a character ending in a consonant is followed by a character starting with a vowel?

Question

(A rule I recall reading has affected how I pronounce words and I want confirmation on whether it is correct.)

When you have a 'character' that ends with a consonant and is followed 'character' that starts with a vowel, then the ending consonant is pronounced with the second 'character' instead of being at the end of the first 'character.' Right?

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For example,

(WITHIN A SENTENCE):

• 빨간 불일 때 길을 건너다. (To cross the street when it is red light.)
  • Would be pronounced as 빨간 "부릴" 때 "기를" 건너다.

(WITHIN A WORD)

• 입안자 (planner)
  • Would be pronounced as "이반자"

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To what extent does this happen? Is it within a word that this is allowed or can it be whenever a character ending in a consonant is followed by a character starting with a vowel?

Answer 1

Basically when ㅇ can changeable when there is 받침 in front of it. I think there is exception for certain case, but most of time it will be like that.

For example,

Answer 2

The first one 불일 being pronounced 부릴 is spot on.

As for the second one, I think the example given is too strong a pronunciation. Say this sentence:

Hang on tight.

It could not be pronounced:

Han Kahn tight.

That would be too strong, you see.

You are on the right track with your thinking, though, yes, 받침 (consonant at the end of a syllable) is pronounced through a leading syllable's ㅇ as if it were the next syllable's leading consonant.

This is called 음의 동화. In fact, I've just found a site that explains the "variances" on this very well, I'll paste the pertinent content:

from https://www.korean.go.kr :

[질문] 장애음 뒤에 유음이 오는 경우 유음이 'ㄴ'으로 소리 나게 하고, 이 비음이 다시 앞에 오는 자음에 영향을 주어 비음화가 된다고 하는데요, 'ㄱ' 경우의 예로 독립 [동닙], 'ㅂ'의 예는 십리 [심니] 등이 있는데,\r 'ㄷ' 경우의 예를 찾을 수가 없는데,\r 그 예가 어떤 것이 있는지요?

[답변] 문의하신 음의 동화는 받침 'ㄱ, ㅂ'과 그 뒤에 연결되는 'ㄹ'의 발음에 관한 것입니다. 관련 규정인 '표준 발음법' 제5장 음의 동화, 제19항, 붙임 조항을 아래에 제시하니, 참고하시기 바랍니다. 받침 'ㄱ, ㅂ' 뒤에 연결되는 'ㄹ'도 [ㄴ]으로 발음한다. 막론[막논→망논] 백리[백니→뱅니] 협력[협녁→혐녁] 십리[십니→심니] (해설: 받침 'ㄱ, ㅂ' 뒤에서 'ㄹ'은 [ㄴ]으로 발음되는데, 그 [ㄴ] 때문에 'ㄱ, ㅂ'은 다시 [ㅇ, ㅁ]으로 역행 동화되어 발음된다. 예컨대 '막론(莫論)'은 '[막논]→[망논]'으로 발음되는 것이다.)