A plan to encourage families to speak Taiwanese in the home was announced by the Ministry of Culture Dec. 25 in Taipei City, highlighting the government’s commitment to preserving the country’s multilingual heritage.
Prominent attendees at the launch ceremony included MOC Minister Li Yuan and Caring for Taiwan Foundation Chair Chou Ching-yu.
Speaking at the event, Li voiced the hope that every national tongue would become widespread because language equality reflects the equity among different ethnic groups.
Chou pointed out that a long-term focus on Mandarin has led to a gradual decrease in speakers of other national languages, adding that despite the passage of the Development of National Languages Act in 2019, Taiwanese does not have any specific law or organization to promote its use. The initiative is a response to an MOC survey conducted in 2020 that found a significant decline in Taiwanese as a first language among younger generations.
Under the plan, households that comprise at least two members of different generations or are formed by a married couple can apply to become a Taiwanese-speaking family. Based on language proficiency, those who wish to improve their Taiwanese can register for the “Taiwanese language learning family” track, while those who are fluent can register for the “Taiwanese culture family” track, the MOC said, adding that status is granted after members complete required courses.
Under the plan, households that comprise at least two members of different generations or are formed by a married couple can apply to become a Taiwanese-speaking family. Based on language proficiency, those who wish to improve their Taiwanese can register for the “Taiwanese language learning family” track, while those who are fluent can register for the “Taiwanese culture family” track, the MOC said, adding that status is granted after members complete required courses.
The ministry concluded by vowing to collaborate with local governments and civic groups to develop diverse courses and activities offering more opportunities for speaking Taiwanese. (POC-E)
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