Indigenous Languages

As introduced by the Yearbook of the Republic of China:

Each indigenous group has its own language. These languages, classified as "Formosan," belong to the same Proto-Austronesian linguistic family as Malaysian and Hawaiian. The use of Formosan languages varies according to area. On Orchid Island, for example, Yami is still widely spoken. Native speakers are dwindling in number, however, as new generations growing up in cities are usually not as fluent in their ancestral language as they are in Mandarin or Minnanese.

To rectify this, the study of indigenous languages by its people has been included in Taiwan's compulsory education system. The Council of Indigenous Peoples of the Executive Yuan also offers lessons in major indigenous languages on its Internet website.

In 2001, the Taipei City Government's Indigenous Peoples Commission cosponsored two radio programs to introduce indigenous languages, cultures, and activities to Taipei residents. It also implemented the Scheme of Aboriginal Language Networks to facilitate the establishment of a network of tutors and parents, so that the best approaches and curricula for each particular group could be developed.