In Taiwan We Speak

<p>What does it mean to be Indigenous in Taipei? Lahok Ciwko, an Amis (Pangcah) youth raised in the capital, shares his story of growing up disconnected from his roots and culture, facing prejudice and microaggressions...

<p>What happens when AI meets Taiwan’s Indigenous languages? First, it might break its teeth trying to decipher Paiwan’s highly inflected, polysynthetic grammar.</p><p>In this episode, linguistics researcher Yedda...

<p>You can’t learn a language in a vacuum — and the Paiwan language proves it. Words like ‘pai’, ‘manu’ and ‘avan’ carry layers of meaning that are inseparable from cultural and social context and resist simple...

<p>Born with only a Chinese name — despite Paiwan tradition — Yedda Ljeljeng lja Palemek found a turning point when her teacher called her Yedda. She embraced it, and after Taiwan recognised the right of Indigenous...

<p>Through her grandmother’s extraordinary life — from Atayal to Japanese, and the so-called “mountain compatriot” — Eri Liao traces the complex history of her family and her people. Her grandmother’s words, “You must...

<p>Atayal folk songs are like… techno, says singer Eri Liao. In this part of our interview, Eri talks about Atayal lullabies, Aza Roots’ new album, the joys and clichés of being labelled a “musical Indigenous”, and...

<p>One day, Eri Liao woke up and decided that Brazil’s iconic ‘Águas de Março’ needed to live in her ancestral Atayal language. In this episode, the Atayal-Japanese singer shares how she not only translated but also...

<p>Ever heard a song that feels like a memory you’ve never lived? Singer Eri Liao, half Indigenous Atayal and half Japanese, opens our new episode with her original ‘Taragay 漂亮’. Sung in Atayal, Japanese, and Mandarin...

<p>The unique dialect of the Matsu Islands became a national language of Taiwan in 2019. Eva Tsao (曹辰瑩), its first government-certified teacher, is on a mission to help it survive in a Mandarin-dominated world.</p><p>In...

<p>Why do many people mistake the Matsu language for Hakka? Matsu teacher and YouTuber Eva Tsao (曹辰瑩) explores what makes this lesser known national language of Taiwan so distinct — and unfamiliar, even to Taiwanese...

<p>“I am from Matsu (我是馬祖儂),” declares our guest, taking us on a journey through her island home, its unique dialect, and an identity shaped by both distance and history.</p><p>Educator and YouTuber Eva Tsao (曹辰瑩)...

<p>Are cochlear implants a solution or just one part of the picture? In the final part of our series, we dive into how technology — from video calls to implants — can help or hinder Deaf children’s access to...

<p>Did you know many Deaf children in Taiwan already learn American Sign Language (ASL) fingerspelling? Dr. Jean Andrews and Dr. Fanghuai Ku unpack Deaf education in a globalised world — how Deaf people acquire multiple...

<p>Is sign language an afterthought, or the foundation of Deaf education? Dr. Jean Andrews walks us through different perspectives on Deaf education, making a strong case for the roles American Sign Language (ASL) and...

<p>Like any spoken language, a sign language carries the soul of its people — their shared culture, identity and everyday struggles. In this episode, we explore the Deaf communities of Taiwan and the U.S., examining how...