“As a foreigner, I don’t face that directly, but when I’m with people who speak Taiwanese, I see it.”A-iong is one of a growing number of social media content creators who are promoting Taiwan’s struggling non-Mandarin languages that were suppressed for decades by the government. While attitudes and policy are changing, stereotypes or the lack of resources make preserving these languages a challenge. “Mintamasaz” means “cheer up” or “be strong” in the Bunun language. Umav Ispalakan’s Facebook page featuring Bunun language illustrations has become a conduit to present deeper issues such as cultural identity, Aboriginal rights and persistent stereotypes. Photo courtesy of Umav Ispalakan“Their first reaction was to reply in Mandarin, but I kept telling them, speak the language, speak the language,” she says.

Source: Taipei Times December 09, 2021 00:58 UTC