TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Using the term “Taiwan Taiwanese” instead of “Taiwan Hokkien” will not affect the status of the country’s other national languages, Deputy Culture Minister Lee Ching-hwi (李靜慧) said on Wednesday (Oct. 9).
Lee spoke in the legislature in response to Kuomintang (KMT) Legislators who suggested using the term “Taiwan Taiwanese (台灣台語)” infringed on other languages, per CNA. The legislators’ challenge highlighted a change implemented on Oct. 1 that removes the term “Taiwanese Hokkien (台灣閩南語)” from education ministry language tests in favor of the more localized term.
KMT Legislators Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) and Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) said the change had been opposed by some Hakka communities. Meanwhile, KMT Legislator Hsu Hsin-ying (徐欣瑩), said referring to “Hokkien” as “Taiwanese” may cause ethnic divisions by creating the assumption that all Taiwanese-born people should speak the language, per UDN.
As one of Taiwan’s national languages, Taiwan Taiwanese has the same status as Taiwan’s Indigenous languages, Taiwanese Hakka, Matsu’s language, Taiwanese sign language, and others, Lee said. She said there was no intention to disrupt the coexistence of Taiwan’s national languages with the name change.
Lee emphasized that the term “Taiwan Taiwanese” was first proposed for official use in 2022. She noted that it is a proper noun, not an abbreviation of “Taiwan Language.”
Lee also said a ministry survey had found that 85% of people who speak the “Taiwan Taiwanese” language identify as “Taiwanese.” In this regard, she said that Taiwan will allow groups to self-identify with the names they choose, in line with United Nations recommendations.
If the use of the term “Taiwan Taiwanese” has caused misunderstandings, it is because of insufficient communication, and this will continue to be strengthened, Lee said.
Chair of the Cabinet’s Hakka Affairs Council Ku Hsiu-fei (古秀妃) also responded to the KMT legislators and noted that the term “Taiwan Taiwanese” is only provided by the Ministry of Culture as suggested terminology. Other ministry suggestions for describing the language include simply “Taiwanese (台語)," and “Taiwan Hokkien.”
Ku said the council would take any dissatisfaction with the change into account, and continue to discuss and review the issue. She said that for all national languages, there is mutual respect, and each group can decide which language it focuses on according to its own needs.
