The Seminar ‘Sociolinguistics and Anthropological Linguistics: A Merger’ included an intensive e-mail exchange with Taiwanese students. My keypal ‘Cherlene’, told about the linguistic diversity of her country. Besides, I had the opportunity to read the letters which were exchanged between my classmates and their assigned Taiwanese students.
People in Taiwan have to deal with a multilingual society. Although Mandarin Chinese is the official language, there are in fact several more languages one is confronted with in everyday life. Cherlene pointed out that choice of code differs not only between social classes, ethnic communities and generations, but also between other domains of life such as school, university, jurisdiction, the media and advertising.
Each of our e-mail partners was multi- or at least bilingual in Mandarin plus one or two other Chinese languages. Besides, all of them knew English or/and another European language. The reality of Taiwanese society requires the ability to switch codes flexibly according to the occasion.
This complex situation is the result of political changes, power-shifts, two main, contradictory waves of language promotion, and a strict language policy by the government until the late 1980s. Consequently, it is indispensable to look at historical and social developments in order to understand and evaluate the present situation.
This paper is based on Cherlene‘s first-hand information and the general impression received from the other e-mails. The linguistic information is embedded in a historic-political context, because I was especially interested in how such a situation could develop and how language use reflects power-relations.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. A SHORT SURVEY OF TAIWANESE HISTORY
1.2. TERMINOLOGY
1.3. POPULATION AND LANGUAGE DISTRIBUTION
2. A NEW OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
2.1. CRITICISM I.
3. A NEW IDENTITY
3.1. NEW LANGUAGE ATTITUDES
4. STATUS QUO
4.1. GROUP SOLIDARITY
4.2. JURISDICTION
4.3. ADVERTISING
4.5. CRITICISM II.
5. CONCLUSION
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the correlation between language behaviour and political shifts in Taiwan, focusing on the historical and social pressures that have shaped the current multilingual landscape. It explores the tension between official language policies and local vernaculars, as well as the emerging sense of a distinct Taiwanese identity in the post-martial law era.
- The impact of state-enforced monolingualism on local language vitality.
- Power dynamics reflected in the usage of Mandarin versus local languages like Taiwanese and Hakka.
- Sociolinguistic observations on language choice in domains such as law, media, and private life.
- The construction and evolution of a unique Taiwanese identity separate from mainland influence.
Excerpt from the Book
A SHORT SURVEY OF TAIWANESE HISTORY
Taiwan is a small country, situated 150 km off the coast of Mainland China, around 380 km long and 140 km wide.
The aborigines of Taiwan are Austronesians who are assumed to have reached the island via the Philippines some thousand years ago.
The first Chinese immigrants entered the island in the 9th century. Until the beginning of the 16th century, Taiwan was under Chinese rule and belonged to the Province of Fukien, from which the settlers originated.
In the 17th century, Portuguese, Dutch and Spanish invaders occupied the island successively until they were defeated by soldiers from the Chinese mainland.
Chapter Summary
1. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the scope of the seminar and introduces the multilingual society of Taiwan, grounding the paper in personal accounts and historic-political contexts.
2. A NEW OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Analyzes the transition from Japanese to Mandarin as the official language and the resulting social and political stratification.
3. A NEW IDENTITY: Discusses the emergence of a distinct Taiwanese identity following the transition to democracy and the easing of political tensions with the mainland.
4. STATUS QUO: Examines current language usage patterns across different social domains and groups, highlighting the shifting prestige of vernacular languages.
5. CONCLUSION: Summarizes the findings regarding language behaviour and predicts the future acceptance and role of Taiwanese amidst ongoing political developments.
Keywords
Taiwan, Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, Sociolinguistics, Language policy, Multilingualism, Identity, Power relations, Colonialism, Language attitudes, Language usage, Bilingualism, Status quo, Nationalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The paper examines how language behaviour in Taiwan has been influenced and transformed by political changes, power dynamics, and state-enforced policies throughout the 20th century.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
Key themes include the evolution of language policy, the tension between official Mandarin and local dialects (Taiwanese and Hakka), language inequality, and the development of a distinct Taiwanese national identity.
What is the central research question?
The work investigates how the specific historical and political context of Taiwan has shaped language use and how, conversely, language usage reflects broader power relations and social shifts.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The paper utilizes a qualitative approach, combining literature analysis with empirical, first-hand data derived from an e-mail exchange with local Taiwanese students to gain authentic linguistic insights.
What topics are addressed in the main body?
The body covers historical background, the shift to an official language, contemporary language attitudes across generations, and sociolinguistic observations within domains such as the legal system and advertising.
What are the characterizing keywords of the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as sociolinguistics, language policy, Taiwanese identity, and multilingualism, reflecting the complex interplay between cultural heritage and political governance.
How does the author characterize the role of Hakka within the Taiwanese society?
The author identifies Hakka as a speech community that is currently losing ground due to its smaller size, often being neglected in public discourse in favour of more "powerful" languages.
What observation does the author make about language use in the courtroom?
The author notes that while Mandarin is the standard language of the court, the use of language there is highly sensitive and often reflects deep-seated power structures, where Mandarin usage is perceived as showing respect to the judiciary.
- Quote paper
- Cornelia Neumann (Author), 1999, Socio-political aspects of language behaviour in Taiwan, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/31464
