TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s folk song contest opened Wednesday in Kaohsiung, bringing together teachers and students to celebrate the country's rich linguistic heritage.

This year, 13,433 teachers and students are performing across 300 teams in four language categories, the largest scale in the contest’s history. Languages include Taiwanese and Matsu dialects, Hakka, Indigenous languages, and Southeast Asian languages, according to CNA.

At the opening ceremony, Ministry of Education official Wu Hsiao-hsia (武曉霞) emphasized that mother tongues are not only cultural roots but also bridges to daily life. She said the event turns language into vibrant artistic expression and brings classroom learning into communities.

Taiwan’s languages reflect centuries of adaptation and exchange. Hakka includes five main dialects that evolved locally into distinct systems, according to the Ministry of Culture.

Taiwanese blends influences from Dutch, Japanese, and Indigenous languages, while Austronesian languages, spoken by Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples, cover 16 ethnic groups and 42 languages. Matsu dialect, shaped by Mandarin, Taiwanese, and Hakka, has developed into a unique local system through ongoing cultural evolution.

Wu highlighted the careful research behind each performance, from traditional lyrics to singing styles. The public is welcome to attend at the Kaohsiung Social Education Center, and winning teams will have opportunities to perform nationwide.