Category Archives: Hokkien

‘Written Taiwanese’ — new book

Posted on by
Reply

Harrassowitz has released a new book by Henning Klöter, Written Taiwanese (ISBN 3447050934).

Here’s the publisher’s blurb:

Written Taiwanese provides the first comprehensive account of the different ways in which Taiwanese (i.e., the Southern Min language of Taiwan) has been represented in written sources. The scope of the study ranges from early popular writings in closely related dialects to present-day forms of written Taiwanese. The study treats written Taiwanese both as a linguistic and as a socio-political phenomenon. The linguistic description focuses on the interrelation between written units and Taiwanese speech and covers various linguistic sub. elds, such as Taiwanese lexicography, phonology, and morphosyntax. The socio-political analysis explores the historical backgrounds which have led to different conventions in writing Taiwanese.

cover of book 'Written Taiwanese'
Here are some related links:

Look for a review of this book in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Chinese Linguistics.

writing Taiwanese: language, script, and myths

Posted on by
1

I’ve been fortunate to be able to add to this site a major essay on Taiwan’s language situation, etymology, and scripts: “How to Forget Your Mother Tongue and Remember Your National Language,” by Victor H. Mair, a professor of Chinese language and literature at the University of Pennsylvania.

Here is the abstract:

The concept of guoyu (“national language”) is deeply embedded in the consciousness of everyone who has grown up in Taiwan during the past half century. Lately, however, people have begun to speak of their muyu (“mother tongue”) as being worthy of inculcation. Guoyu, of course, refers to Modern Standard Mandarin (MSM), which in China is called putonghua (“common speech”). Mandarin is not native to Taiwan, yet it is the national language of Taiwan’s citizens and is the sole official written language. In contrast, the citizens of Taiwan are discouraged from writing their native languages (viz., Taiwanese, Hakka, and various aboriginal languages) and it is only recently that it has been possible to teach them in the schools. This paper will examine the complicated processes whereby the citizens of Taiwan are transformed from speakers of their mother tongues to speakers and writers of the national language. This transformation does not rely purely on educational activities carried out in the schools, but involves political, social, and cultural factors as well. The transformation of Cantonese and Shanghainese speakers into Mandarin speakers and writers will also be examined for comparative purposes.

This, however, hardly does justice to the scope of the essay.

I strongly recommend reading this. Again, here is the link to the full essay.

Malaysian advertising and language reality

Posted on by
Reply

Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) will review its advertisement code of ethics which had been claimed as being too rigid that it hampered the creativity of advertisement production agencies, said Information Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir.

“We don’t feel that RTM is rigid but we have the responsibility to build a society that is united and courteous. However, we will look into this matter,” he told reporters after a dialogue with the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As).

Abdul Kadir said advertisers encountered difficulty as they sometimes had to make two different versions of an advertisement, one to be aired over RTM and another over private stations, thus incurring high production cost.

Among the supposedly rigid code of ethics was the use of models, actors or actresses with the Pan Asian look, and sexually offensive and violent scenes, he said.

Meanwhile, 4As President Datuk Vincent Lee told Bernama that the strict code of ethics “is killing advertisement creativity in Malaysia”.

He described the advertisement scenario in Malaysia as way behind that in Singapore and Thailand due to many regulations of “double standards”.

“For example, in drama, you can use English and Malay but in advertisements we cannot mix the languages. The problem is that in the local Hokkien dialect, 30 per cent of the Hokkien words are Malay words,” he said.

This problem made it difficult for advertisements in Malaysia to portray the real Malaysian society of various communities and ways, he said.

He admitted that there were no problems with the private stations as they were more open.

source: RTM To Review Ads Code Of Ethics Following ‘Too Rigid’ Claims, from Bernama (Malaysia’s national news service), on October 4, 2005

Romanization and teaching Taiwan’s languages

Posted on by
2

Three recent articles.

教育部極力推動鄉土語言教學，但第一線的老師碰到不少瓶頸。93學年度鄉土語言教學訪視今(26)日舉行頒獎典禮，教授母語的老師表示，最大的困難是缺乏實用的環境，有些學生在學校學了母語，回到家後缺乏和父母練習，加上教材缺乏生活化，都是教學現場中經常會遇到的問題。

近年來由於強調本土化，所以母語教學也變得很重要，教授的母語包括河洛語、客家話和原住民語；國小是每週有1小時的母語課程，到了國中則改為選修。儘管教育部加強推動，但老師也遇到不少困難。

台北市福德國小老師蔡(系秀)珍表示，因為缺乏實用的環境，許多學生在學校學習母語之後，回到家中缺乏練習的機會，所以很容易就忘記，加上台北市以講國語為主，學生練習的機會更少。

另外，她提到，教材編寫不夠生活化，無法引起學生的興趣，所以在教學時都要改編教材，加入更多生活化的題材，吸引學生注意。

北市國語實小老師朱阿莉則認為，語文領域應該有一套同整的音標，羅馬拼音就是很實用的工具，像她就是用羅馬拼音學會河洛語和客家話。她強調，全世界都是使用羅馬拼音，如果台灣不用，其實很可惜。

另一位教授原住民語的花蓮縣水璉國小老師宋德讓表示，他的學生多是阿美族，有很多不會講母語也不會聽，甚至不懂為什麼要學會講原住民的母語，但他透過遊戲和唱歌，在過程中就教導學生講幾句母語，學生學會之後就會和阿嬤用母語交談，大人們都會很高興，也增加學生的樂趣。

source: 缺乏實用環境、教材不夠生活化　母語教師教學遇瓶頸, 台北報導 September 26, 2005

國語實小教師朱阿莉今天指出，語文教學工具對鄉土語教學很重要，她建議九年一貫課程應有一套可學國語、英語、閩南語、客家話等語言的統整拼音系統。

教育部首度舉辦的鄉土語言教學訪視評鑑結果今天出爐並舉行頒獎典禮，教育部長杜正勝親自頒獎評鑑遴選出來的八個績優縣市、五十二所績優學校、四十九位教學績優教師，朱阿莉等得獎教師認為鄉土語言教學的路還很長，鄉土語言教師應有更積極努力的空間。

台北市福德國小教師蔡 (糸秀)珍表示，鄉土語言教師編教材要結合時事經驗和生活化，她曾在兩年前把SARS編成童謠。

阿美族人宋德讓在花蓮縣水璉國小退休後，仍回校義務教阿美族語，他說水璉國小大部分學童是阿美族，卻不會講母語，也不懂為什麼要學母語，因此，他先教唱歌玩遊戲，再穿插教一兩句母語，孩子回去與阿媽對話，彼此都很開心，顯見教母語要先激發孩子的興趣。

教育部表示，這次評鑑發現很多縣市的用心與創意，例如台北縣利用K12數位學校，營造無所不在的學習環境，結合資訊與鄉土語言教育，深具創意及方便性，尤其運用動畫技巧，將親師生共同創作的繪本，予以數位化，更能吸引孩子的目光。

高雄縣透過鄉土月、主題週、鄉土語言日、社團活動，認識其他各族群語言；台北市編印鄉土語言教材，每一種都包括書本及CD，且包含閩、客及原住民三種語言。

台中縣辦理閩南語卡拉OK歌唱比賽及爭取行政院客家委員會經費，成立大埔音客語教學資源中心；台南市將校園公共設施及場所標示牌納入台語諺語、俚語及俗語等內容，並透過英語老師協助翻譯成英語，採﹁中、英、台﹂介紹給到校參觀的外國人士，充分讓鄉土語言俚語國際化；高雄市每年辦理台語文教學學術研討會，有效提升鄉土語言學術價值。

今天得獎的績優縣市共計有屏東縣、高雄市、高雄縣、新竹市、台中縣、台北市、台北縣、台南市等八個單位，由杜正勝頒發獎牌一面，並頒給五十萬元推展鄉土語言教學專案補助款。

source: 母語教師:鄉土語教學應有一套統整拼音工具, 中央社 September 26, 2005

教育部昨天表揚鄉土語言教學評鑑績優單位及個人，共有8縣市、52所學校及49位教師及支援人員得獎。有得獎老師嗆聲表示，政府力排的羅馬拼音，現在各國都在積極學習，而一套統整的羅馬拼音可以同時學華、閩、客、英語，教育部應推動整合。

教育部長杜正勝致詞時表示，聯合國教科文組織宣示「世界上的少數族群語言、文化、宗教，是人權的一部分，全世界應共同維護」，鼓勵鄉土語言是世界主流價值，社會對母語教學應有正確認識。

受獎人之一的台北市國語實小老師朱阿莉說，學習語文的工具很重要，她不是閩南人或客家人，但根據羅馬拼音學會閩南語和客家語；全世界都積極用羅馬拼音來學習華語，國內應趕緊發展可同時學習華語、閩南語、客家語及英語4種語言且和大陸漢語拼音接軌的羅馬拼音系統，學生只要花2、3個月學會這套拼音系統，不但可學母語，也才能和全世界競爭。

台北市福德國小老師蔡綉珍則認為現在部分母語教材與生活脫節，她必須自編教材加一課專講台北的捷運、百貨公司、孔廟，才能結合兒童接觸過的生活時事。

蔡綉珍強調，語言教學不能只靠課堂，家長在家一定要協助，若回家不講母語，教學無法落實。

已退休的花蓮水璉國小老師宋德讓是阿美族人，他說很多阿美族小朋友不會聽、說母語，也不懂為何要學，所以他花很多心思讓小朋友了解學習母語是很重要的事，再利用唱歌、遊戲引起興趣，讓小朋友喜歡學習母語。

source: 得獎老師嗆聲：政府不該排斥羅馬拼音, 台北報導 September 27, 2005

Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

Posted on by
3

For many years, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan has been an important voice for human rights in Taiwan, including the right of people to speak and worship in their native language.

Probably the best-established romanization system for writing Taiwanese (Hoklo, Hokkien, Minnan, etc.) is known as the “church system,” having been developed by Presbyterian missionaries. Publications are still being issued in this, as I intend to discuss in a later edition of Pinyin News.

Through the efforts of David Alexander, many writings and news releases from the church are available in English.

Articles that might be of interest to readers of Pinyin News include:

Taiwan naturalization and language exams

Posted on by
2

The Taipei Times reports that Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior has drafted amendments to the regulations for acquiring ROC citizenship.

The amendments, which are still under discussion, would require naturalization applicants to possess basic language ability in either Mandarin, Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese), Hakka or any of the nation’s Aboriginal languages. I’m very glad of the inclusiveness of this test, which contrasts well with what is being done in China. (I’ll post about Beijing’s actions in Shanghai later.)

An exam on citizen rights and responsibilities, such as in regard to taxation and education, will be offered in any one of the above languages in both written and oral format. Applicants may choose either format, which will feature 20 questions. [emphasis added]

Those who have studied in private or public schools in Taiwan for more than a year or who have taken government-recognized classes for more than 200 hours will not need to take the exam.

Sample exam questions and answers should be available in about six weeks, with the final version of the proposal to be ready by the beginning of next year.

It may be too much to hope for a version of the test in romanization, but I’ll try to keep abreast of the progress of this.

source: Ministry floats draft changes to naturalization law

Addendum: The China Post, a much less reliable newspaper (in large part because it frequently relies on bad translations of badly written stories from the local Mandarin Chinese papers), reports this somewhat differently.

Taiwan citizenship and Mandarin

Posted on by
3

Today’s Taipei Times has the following note:

Citizenship changes proceed

Foreign nationals seeking Taiwanese citizenship will be required to have a basic grasp of Mandarin and an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of being a Taiwanese citizen if an amendment to the Nationality Law (國籍法 guójí fǎ) is passed. The amendment was approved by the legislature’s Home and Nations Committee yesterday and sent for further screening to a legislative plenary session. According to the amendment, the Ministry of the Interior will set the standards regarding basic language ability and knowledge of citizen rights and responsibilities. The ministry will also be responsible for testing applicants. Vice Minister of the Interior Chien Tai-lang (簡太郎) said that the amendment is aimed at bringing naturalization laws in line with those of such English-speaking countries as the US, Canada and New Zealand.

According to an official U.S. government Web site on U.S. citizenship and immigration services, “To be eligible for naturalization, you must be able to read, write, and speak basic English.” (Emphasis mine.)

The few Web pages I’ve scanned about Canadian citizenship are not as specific about the language requirement. I get the impression, though, that being able to read and write French or English is not required as long as speaking ability exists. I didn’t see anything specific about the English-language requirement for New Zealand, either.

Official talk of a language requirement for ROC (Taiwan) citizenship surfaced about a year ago. At the time, I called the Ministry of the Interior to inquire about the situation. If applicants for citizenship are required to be able to read and write Mandarin in Chinese characters, this would be a substantial barrier to naturalization — much more so than being able to read or write a language that is written in an alphabetic script.

I was told that reading and writing Chinese characters would not be required. I hope that is still the intention of the government.

I also inquired whether languages of Taiwan other than Mandarin would be acceptable, and I was told they would be. Thus, someone able to speak Taiwanese (Hokkien, Minnan, Holo…), Hakka, or, rather less likely, one of the languages of Taiwan’s tribes, would be able to meet the language requirement without knowledge of Mandarin. I hope that this, too, is still the intention of the government.

I suspect some of the ambiguity may lie in how Guóyǔ (國語) is translated. Most of the time the word refers to Mandarin. Recently, however, the government has occasionally chosen to translate Guóyǔ not as “national language” (i.e. Mandarin) but “national languages” (i.e. the more than one dozen languages of Taiwan: Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, and the languages of Taiwan’s tribes).

Mayor Ma on learning Hakka and Taiwanese

Posted on by
2

In 馬英九怕被叫馬爺爺 開心唱客家歌, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou offers a few remarks on Hakka, Taiwanese, and how they may be learned.

Mǎ Yīngjiǔ shuō, Kèyǔ hé Táiyǔ qíshí dōu kěyǐ yòng zhùyīn fúhào, zàijiā shàng jǐ gè yīn lái jiào, xiǎopéngyou kěyǐ yīcì xué sān zhǒng yǔyán, bùyīdìng yào yòng Luómǎ pīnyīn, zēngjiā xuéxí nándù.

馬英九說，客語和台語其實都可以用注音符號，再加上幾個音來教，小朋友可以一次學三種語言，不一定要用羅馬拼音，增加學習難度。

The article isn’t very well written. But Ma seems to have a prejudice against romanization that should be corrected. Nonetheless, it’s hard for this Pinyin advocate to get too worked up about this because Ma is the one who finally brought some order to the signage of Taipei with the thorough implementation of Hanyu Pinyin.

Whatever they might think of other aspects of his politics, many foreigners in Taiwan are deeply appreciative of Ma’s administration for this, despite the awful, awful InTerCaPiTaLiZaTion.