台灣 / 屏東縣 – 語言 及 人物
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Links to individual topics for PINGTUNG – LANGUAGE & PEOPLES
are displayed on this page in the following categories: :
Links to culture of languages & peoples in Pingtung County
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Click here for the Pingtung Home Page
Click here for links to Culture of Pingtung
Click here for links to Business in Pingtung
Click here for links to Travel in Pingtung
Click here for links to Environment & Nature in Pingtung
For links to Languages & Peoples of Pingtung . . . . .
. . . . . please continue to scroll down through this page
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PINGTUNG – 台灣 / 屏東縣
LANGUAGE & PEOPLES – 語言 及 人物
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LANGUAGE – 語 言
(wikipedia.org)
- LANGUAGE – 語言
- _____ – Languages in the culture of Pingtung
- Pingtung County (屏東縣), located at the southern tip of Taiwan, is one of the most linguistically diverse areas on the island due to its mix of Hoklo Han communities, Hakka settlements, and a large Indigenous population. Here’s a clear breakdown of the main languages spoken there:
1. Mandarin Chinese (國語 / 普通話)
Status: Official and most widely understood language
Used in:
Schools
Government offices
Media
Business and tourism
✅ Everyone in Pingtung can communicate in Mandarin, especially younger and working-age people.
2. Taiwanese Hokkien (台語 / 閩南語)
Status: Most commonly spoken home language
Spoken by: The majority of Han residents
Used in:
Daily conversation
Markets
Family life
Local politics
📌 In many rural and older communities, Taiwanese is used more than Mandarin in daily life.
3. Hakka (客家話)
Status: Important regional heritage language
Main areas:
Neipu (內埔)
Wanluan (萬巒)
Changzhi (長治)
Zhutian (竹田)
🟣 Many residents in these townships grow up bilingual in Hakka + Mandarin, and often also understand Taiwanese.
4. Indigenous (Formosan) Languages
Pingtung has the largest Indigenous population of any county in Taiwan, especially in its mountain townships.
Major Indigenous languages spoken:
Paiwan (排灣語) – most widespread
Rukai (魯凱語)
Amis (阿美語) – smaller population than on the east coast
Main areas:
Sandimen (三地門)
Wutai (霧台)
Taiwu (泰武)
Chunrih (春日)
Shizi (獅子)
✅ These languages are still actively spoken at home by elders and taught in schools as heritage languages, though Mandarin dominates among younger generations.
5. Other Languages (Smaller but Present)
English – taught in schools, used in tourism (Kenting)
Southeast Asian languages (Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai) – due to:
Migrant workers
International marriages
Japanese – understood by some older residents due to historical influence
Typical Multilingual Pattern in Pingtung
Many people are trilingual:
Mandarin + Taiwanese + Hakka
or
Mandarin + Taiwanese + Indigenous language
This makes Pingtung one of Taiwan’s richest linguistic regions.
- EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .
- scholar.google.com – Languages spoken in Pingtung @ Google Scholar
- youtube.com – Languages spoken in Pingtung @ YouTube . com
- images.google.com – Languages spoken in Pingtung @ Google Images
PEOPLES – 人物
- PEOPLES – 人物
- Pingtung County (屏東縣), at Taiwan’s southern tip, is one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the country. Its population is made up of four main people groups, each with distinct history, culture, and languages.
1. Hoklo (Minnan / Taiwanese-speaking Han Chinese)
Largest group in Pingtung
Origins & Settlement
Descendants of settlers from Fujian (Quanzhou & Zhangzhou) in southern China
Arrived mainly during the Qing Dynasty (17th–19th centuries)
Key Features
Speak Taiwanese Hokkien (台語) as their traditional home language
Dominant in:
Pingtung City
Coastal plains
Agricultural lowlands
Historically farmers, fishers, traders
Cultural Traits
Strong traditions of:
Temple religion (Mazu, Wangye, Earth God)
Night markets
Folk festivals and processions
➡️ Today, most Hoklo people are bilingual in Taiwanese + Mandarin.
2. Hakka (客家人)
Second-largest Han group
Origins & Settlement
Migrated later than Hoklo from Guangdong & Fujian
Settled mainly in inland plains between mountains and coast
Main Hakka Townships in Pingtung
Neipu (內埔)
Wanluan (萬巒)
Changzhi (長治)
Zhutian (竹田)
Key Features
Traditionally speak Hakka Chinese
Known for:
Strong clan organization
Frugality and agriculture
Preserved language use
Food & Culture
Famous for Wanluan pork knuckle (萬巒豬腳)
Distinct Hakka music, architecture, and festivals
➡️ Many Hakka residents today are trilingual: Hakka + Taiwanese + Mandarin.
3. Indigenous Peoples (原住民族)
Pingtung has the largest Indigenous population of any county in Taiwan
Main Indigenous Groups in Pingtung
Paiwan (排灣族) – the largest group
Rukai (魯凱族) – concentrated in high mountain areas
Smaller numbers of Amis (阿美族) and others
Main Mountain Townships
Sandimen (三地門) – Paiwan & Rukai
Wutai (霧台) – Rukai center
Taiwu (泰武) – Paiwan
Chunrih (春日) – Paiwan
Shizi (獅子) – Paiwan
Cultural Highlights
Slate houses
Glass bead artistry
Totem carving
Ancestral worship systems
Chieftain-based social structures
Languages
Paiwan language
Rukai language
All Indigenous residents are also fluent in Mandarin
➡️ Many communities are actively involved in language revitalization and cultural tourism.
4. New Immigrants & Migrant Communities
Fast-growing modern population group
Who They Are
Marriage immigrants mainly from:
Vietnam
Indonesia
Thailand
Migrant workers in:
Fisheries
Caregiving
Manufacturing
Cultural Impact
New Southeast Asian grocery stores and restaurants
Multilingual families
Cultural festivals supported by the county government
➡️ This group is reshaping modern Pingtung’s multicultural identity.
Population Structure (Simplified)
While exact percentages shift year by year, the overall pattern is:
Hoklo (Taiwanese Han): Majority
Hakka: Large and regionally concentrated
Indigenous Peoples: Highest county-level proportion in Taiwan
New Immigrants & Migrant Workers: Small but rapidly growing
Why Pingtung Is Special in Taiwan
Pingtung is unique because it combines:
Plains Han farming society
Hakka heritage belt
Deep mountain Indigenous civilizations
Modern Southeast Asian migration
This makes it one of Taiwan’s richest counties for studying ethnicity, language, and cultural interaction.
- _____ – People Groups in the culture of Pingtung
- taiwan-panorama.com – Flights over Formosa – Aboriginal People and Birds @ Taiwan Panorama e-zine
- SANDIMEN TOWNSHIP – 三地門鄉
- wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandimen – Sandimen – 三地門鄉
- foreignersintaiwan.com – Taiwanese Indigenous People’s Cultural Park 台灣原住民族文化園區 @ Foreigners in Taiwan . com blog
- tripadvisor.com – Sandimen – 三地門鄉
- maolin-nsa.gov.tw – Sandimen – 三地門鄉
- taiwaneverything.cc – Sandimen – 三地門鄉
- travelark.org – Sandimen – 三地門鄉
- travelking.com.tw – Sandimen – 三地門鄉
- lifeoftaiwan.com – Sandimen – 三地門鄉
- taiwaneverything.cc – Sandimen – 三地門鄉
- taiwantoday.tw – Sandimen – 三地門鄉
- yeddapalemeq.com – Sandimen – 三地門鄉
- lifeoftaiwan.com – Sandimen – 三地門鄉
- EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .
- scholar.google.com – People Groups in the culture of Pingtung @ Google Scholar
- youtube.com – People Groups in the culture of Pingtung @ YouTube . com
- images.google.com – People Groups in the culture of Pingtung @ Google Images
ETHNIC MINORITIES – 少 數 民 族
- ETHNIC MINORITIES – 少 數 民 族
- In the context of the Island of Taiwan, the term “ethnic minorities” mainly refers to Indigenous Peoples (原住民族), and in a broader sense also includes new immigrant communities. Pingtung is especially important because it has the largest Indigenous population of any county in Taiwan.
- Indigenous people are the most significant and historically rooted ethnic minorities in Pingtung. Most live in the mountain townships along the Central Mountain Range.
- The main Indigenous Groups in Pingtung are:
- Paiwan (排灣族). the largest Indigenous Group in Pingtung. The Paiwan live in the Districts of Taiwu (泰武), Chunrih (春日), Shizi (獅子) and parts of Sandimen (三地門). Paiwan society if characterized by a hereditary chieftain aristocracy. The Paiwan prople are famous for their production of glass beads, totem carving & embroidery. Paiwan society is characterized by a strong ancestral worship system. The Paiwan People live in traditional slate houses. The Paiwan language is still actively spoken, alongside Mandarin.
- Rukai (魯凱族) — High-Mountain People
Main area:
Wutai (霧台) — cultural heart of the Rukai
Parts of Sandimen (三地門)
Key cultural traits:
Distinctive lily symbolism (purity, bravery)
Strong village-based identity
Traditional stone architecture
Language: Rukai language (several dialects) - Smaller Indigenous Presence
Amis (阿美族) — mostly migrants from eastern Taiwan
Small numbers of other tribes due to inter-county movement. - New Immigrant & Migrant Worker Communities (現代族群少數). While not “ethnic minorities” in the traditional Taiwanese classification, there are new groups of social minorities with growing importance in Pingtung County
Main Groups
Vietnamese
Indonesian
Thai
Filipino
Why They Are in Pingtung
Marriage migration (especially Vietnamese & Indonesian spouses)
Fishing industry
Manufacturing
Elder care & agriculture
Cultural Impact
Southeast Asian grocery stores & restaurants
Multilingual households
Multicultural festivals supported by the county government
New languages heard in markets and schools - Most counties in Taiwan are dominated by Han populations with small Indigenous percentages. Pingtung is different because it has: (i) Large, continuous territories inhabited by majority Indigenous peoples; (ii) active tribal governance & cultural preservation in these areas; (iii.) Strong interaction between the mountain Indigenous peoples & the Han Chinese who live in on the Coastal Plain. Ethnic minorities in Pingtung interact daily with: Hoklo (Taiwanese-speaking Han), and the majority Hakka (a large regional Han subgroup). Most Indigenous & new-immigrant residents in Pingtung are multilingual, usually speaking: (i) their heritage language (Paiwan, Rukai, Vietnamese, etc.); (ii) Mandarin Chinese, and often Taiwanese Hokkien.
- wikipedia.org – Pingtung County (屏東縣) @ Wikipedia . org
- manoa.hawaii.edu – Dance of the Paiwan Aboriginal People of Pingtung County @ University of Hawaii at Manoa
- taiwan-panorama.com – New Immigrants Reshape Pingtung @ Taiwan Panorama e-zine
- wikipedia.org – Sandimen Township (三地門鄉) @ Wikipedia . org
- EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .
- scholar.google.com – Ethnic minorities in the culture of Pingtung @ Google Scholar
- youtube.com – Ethnic minorities in the culture of Pingtung @ YouTube . com
- images.google.com – Ethnic minorities in the culture of Pingtung @ Google Images
DEMOGRAPHICS – 人 口 分 布
- DEMOGRAPHICS – 人 口 分 布
- Pingtung is one of Taiwan’s larger counties by land area, but not by population. Pingtung’s population is slowly declining. This is a pattern that is common in many rural counties in Taiwan. The population density is low compared with major cities like Kaohsiung or Taichung. The population in Pingtung is more rural & agricultural than urban. There are many small townships & villages, and one main urban center, Pingtung City.
- The demographics of Pingtung are unique because most counties in Taiwan have small Indigenous populations. Pingtung instead has entire Indigenous-majority townships. The county also has strong Indigenous political & cultural institutions.
- Pingtung is one of Taiwan’s most ethnically diverse counties.. The main population groups are: (i) Hoklo (Taiwanese-speaking Han) which is the majority; (ii) Hakka Han, of which there is a large regional concentration; and (iii.) Indigenous Peoples.
- Pingtung has the highest Indigenous population of any county in Taiwan. The indigenous population is mostly Paiwan, bit there is also population from the Rukai Indigenous group. There are new immigrant residents, mainly from Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand & the Philippines.
- The gender structure of Pingtung is slight female majority. This is typical of aging societies. In some rural areas there are fewer working-age men due to labor migration. There are greater proportions of male migrant workers in fisheries & factories in Pingtung.
- Pingtung is one of Taiwan’s most rapidly aging counties. There is a high elderly proportion of residents aged 65+. There is a low birth rate. Many young adults move out to attend university, or to take jobs in Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taichung & Taipei. As a result there is shrinking school enrollment. There is also increased demand for elder care & medical services. There are also labor shortages in farming & fisheries.
- Urban vs. Rural Distribution:
- The is an urban core in Pingtung City (屏東市). This is the center for aministrative, commercial and education. Pingtung City has the highest population density in the county. It has more youth, students & service-sector jobs.
- The rural plains agricultural townships are engaged in the production principally of rice & fruit. There is also an aquaculture economy on the rural plains of Pingtung. These townships have an aging population & a strong Taiwanese (Hoklo) and Hakka cultural presence.
- The mountain townships of Pingtung are home to most of Pingtung’s Indigenous communities. These townships have smaller populations and greater out-migration of young people. Tourism & cultural industries are growing in these areas, but are still limited.
- EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .
- scholar.google.com – Demographics in the culture of Pingtung @ Google Scholar
- youtube.com – Demographics in the culture of Pingtung @ YouTube . com
- images.google.com – Demographics in the culture of Pingtung @ Google Images
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Click here for the Pingtung Home Page
Click here for links to Culture of Pingtung
Click here for links to Business in Pingtung
Click here for links to Travel in Pingtung
Click here for links to Environment & Nature in Pingtung
For links to Languages & Peoples of Pingtung . . . . .
. . . . . please scroll up through this page
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