How to Forget Your Mother Tongue and Remember Your National Language

[Karen T. Lin]

Hi all,

A friend shared this interesting paper with me and I thought I would pass it along for anyone else interested in the multiplicity of "Taiwanese" language -- or in languages and identity politics in general.

How to Forget Your Mother Tongue and Remember Your National Language
by Victor H. Mair
University of Pennsylvania, written in 2003
http://pinyin.info/readings/mair/taiwanese.html

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.

Please pass this piece along to others as you see fit -- together, we can help our own communities be better informed on our shared heritage, histories, and experiences :)

Sincerely,

Karen T. Lin :: 林后容 :: 435.565.4544 :: @karentl :: hellokaren.com

Taiwanese American Foundation

TAF 2011 Conference: July 31 - August 7

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