Culture of Taiwan - Language

Language

Most people in Taiwan speak both Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese. Mandarin is taught in schools, however most spoken media is split between Mandarin and Taiwanese. Speaking Taiwanese under the Taiwanization movement has become a way for the pro-independence Taiwanese to distinguish themselves from the Mainlanders. The Hakka, who make about 10 percent of the population, speak the distinct Hakka language. The Aboriginal Taiwanese still speak their native languages, but most of them can also speak Mandarin and Taiwanese. English is taught universally, starting with middle school.

Some Japanese words have remained in common day use such as:

  • 一極棒 (yijibang) from 一番 (ichiban) which means "the best".
  • 便當 (biandang) from 弁当 (bentou) which means "boxed lunch".
  • 歐巴桑 (oubasang) from おばさん or おばあさん (obasan / obaasan) which means "auntie" or "granny". The usage of this term can be offensive to women as it implies their youth has faded or refers to the term obatalian, an annoying bossy middle-aged woman.
  • 歐吉桑 (oujisang from おじさん or おじいさん (ojisan / ojiisan) which means "uncle" or "gramps".
  • 卡拉OK (kala OK) from カラオケ (karaoke) which is an amalgamation of "kara (empty) and orchestra". The usage of this term is in decline in favor of KTV.

Also developed Taiwan different expressions in Mandarin, which is called Taiwanese Mandarin.

  • 土豆 (Tǔdòu, China) and 馬鈴薯 (Mǎlíngshǔ, Taiwan), meaning "potato".
  • 軟件 (Ruǎnjiàn, China) and 軟體 (Ruǎntǐ, Taiwan), meaning "software".
  • 自行車 (Zìxíngchē, China) and 腳踏車 (Jiǎotàchē, Taiwan), meaning "bicycle".

Sometimes the pronunciation with same characters differ such as 垃圾 is in China Lājī and in Taiwan Lèsè.

Read more about this topic:  Culture Of Taiwan

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