TAIWAN – LANGUAGE & PEOPLES

台灣 – 語言 及 人物

* * * * *

Location of the Island of Taiwan in East Asia
( ontheworldmap.com )

Island of Taiwan & Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu Islands.
Also shown are:
Green Island (Lu Dao) & Orchid Island (Lan Yu).
( cia.gov )

Administrative Divisions of Taiwan
( nouahsark.com )

Traditional geographical distribution of Highland Peoples.
Alternate spellings or names:
Taroko (Truku, Seediq); Yami (Tao)
( wikipedia . org )

Satellite image of Taiwan showing the central mountains. Compare this image with the map (above) to appreciate the geographic distribution of the Highland Peoples.
( geology . com )

* * * * *

Links to individual topics for TAIWAN – LANGUAGE & PEOPLES

are displayed on this page in the following categories :

LANGUAGE – 語言

Links to culture of languages & peoples of Taiwan

* * * * *

Click here for the Cloudbridge Project Home Page for Taiwan

Click here for links to Culture of Taiwan

Click here for links to Business for Taiwan

Click here for links to Travel for Taiwan

Click here for links to Environment & Nature of Taiwan

For links to Languages & Peoples of Taiwan . . . . .

. . . . . please continue to scroll down through this page

* * * * *

TAIWAN – 臺 灣

LANGUAGE & PEOPLES – 語言 及 人物

* * * * *

LANGUAGE – 語 言

THE MOST COMMONLY USED LANGUAGE In the HOME. 2010. Blue: Mandarin. Green: Hokkien. HOT PINK: Hakka. BURGUNDY: Austronesian Langauges. (wikipedia.org)

DISTRIBUTION of FORMOSAN LANGUAGES before CHINESE COLONIZATION. (wikipedia.org)

% of RESIDENTS USING an INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE in the HOUSEHOLD. 2010. (wikipedia.org)

AREAS where HAKKA is STATUTORY REGIONAL LANGUAGE. (“HAKKA BASIC ACT”). (wikipedia.org)

  • Languages of Taiwan – 臺北市文化中語言的角色

  • Taiwan is very rich in language diversity & linguistic heritage. Several language families & layers of history coexist on the Island of Taiwan and reflect the legacy of migration of people groups to the island, as well as the heritage of indigenous peoples.

  • Languages spoken on the Island of Taiwan include: (i.) Indigenous Austronesian languages (the island’s original languages); (ii.) Mandarin Chinese (which is the official language & dominant language spoken on the island); (iii.) Taiwanese Hokkien (a widely spoken community language); (iv.) Hakka (an important and significant minority language): (v.) Immigrant &international languages; and (vi.) Taiwan Sign Language.

  • omniglot.com – Online encyclopedia of writing systems & languages @ Omniglot . com
  • lifeoftaiwan.com – People & Languages of Taiwan @ Life of Taiwan . com
  • taiwanese-secrets.com – What languages do people speak in Taiwan? @ Taiwanese Secrets . com

  • lifeoftaiwan.com – People & Languages of Taiwan @ Life of Taiwan website
  • ethnologue.com – Languages spoken in Taiwan @ Ethnologue . com – website

  • onehourtranslation.com – Languages of Taiwan @ one hour translation . com
  • kwansei.ac.jp – The politics of names of languages in Taiwan @ Kwansei Gakuin University (Hyogo, Japan) – School of Policy Studies

  • (i.) Indigenous Austronesian languages (the island’s original languages)

  • Indigenous (Formosan) Languages are part of the Austronesian Language Family. These languages are indigenous to the Island of Taiwan & are among the oldest languages on the island. These languages are not part of the Chinese Language Family & are not related to the Mandarin, Hokkien or Hakka languages.
  • Taiwan is the homeland of the Austronesian Language Family, and the indigenous languages spread widely from the Island of Taiwan across the Pacific & Indian Oceans to Polynesia, Micronesia, Madagascar, & Southeast Asia. There are 16 “officially recognized” Indigenous People Groups on the Island of Taiwan and each group has its own language or distinct language variety which belongs to the family of Austronesian Languages.

  • Linguistically, Taiwan’s Indigenous languages are extremely important because they preserve ancient features of the root Austronesian Language. Examples include:

  • Bunun
  • Puyuma
  • Rukai
  • Tsou
  • Saisiyat
  • Yami (Tao) – spoken on Orchid Island
  • Truku, Seediq &Sakizaya (recognized more recently).

  • languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu
  • mgt.org.tw -Mandarin-on-the-go-in-Taiwan @ Office of Global Mandarin Education – Taiwan Ministry of Education
  • ogme.edu.tw – Learn Chinese in Taiwan @ Office of Global Mandarin Education, Taiwan Ministry of Education – website
  • roc-taiwan.org – List of Chinese Language Centers in Taiwan @ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) – website

  • CHINESE ROMANIZATION used on TAIWAN

  • wikipedia.org – Romanization of Chinese Language used on Taiwan @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Wade-Giles Romanization of Mandarin Chinese @ Wikipedia . org

  • HAKKA LANGUAGE

  • wikipedia.org – Hakka Chinese @ wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Taiwanese Hakka @ wikipedia . org
  • taiwannews.com.tw – Hakka as official Taiwan language @ Taiwan News . com
  • taipeitimes.com – Hakka as official Taiwan language @ Taipei Times
  • upenn.edu – Hakka as official Taiwan language @ “Language Log” of the Univ. of Pennsylvania Linguistic Data Consortium

  • EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .

  • scholar.google.com – Languages in the culture of Taiwan – 臺北市文化中語言的角色 @ Google Scholar
  • youtube.com – Languages in the culture of Taiwan – 臺北市文化中語言的角色 @ YouTube . com
  • images.google.com – Languages in the culture of Taiwan – 臺北市文化中語言的角色 @ Google Images

* * * * *

PEOPLES – 族 群

Original geographic distributions of Taiwanese aboriginal peoples. Some groups are not formally recognized by the central government at the present time as authentic aboriginal groups, and some have been “assimilated” by the ethnic Han Chinese majority. ( wikipedia.org )

  • People Groups in Taiwan – 台灣文化中族群的角色

  • The society & culture of Modern Taiwan is shaped by the interaction of several people groups. Many people in Taiwan today wish to identify simply as “Taiwanese”, but at the same time they continue to honor, and hold high regard, for their ancestral & cultural backgrounds.

  • The mixed culture derives from various sources of heritage, including: (i.) the deep historical roots of the Indigenous People Groups who have inhabitated the Island of Taiwan for thousands of years; (ii.) the traditions of language, religion & customs of the Han Chinese people who have settled on the Island of Taiwan more recently (over the past few centuries); and (iii.) recent immigrants & new residents of other People Groups in Southeast Asia & from other continents.

  • taiwan.gov.tw – People of Taiwan @ Government Portal of the Republic of China on Taiwan
  • taipeitimes.com – Most Hoklo, Hakka have Aboriginal genes, study finds @ Taipei Times website
  • lifeoftaiwan.com – People & Languages of Taiwan @ Life of Taiwan website

  • immigration.gov.tw – “ROC’s Initial Report under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination & Taiwan United Religions Organization Parallel Report” @ Ministry of the Interior, National Immigration Agency of the Government of the Republic of China on Taiwan
  • unpo.org – Taiwan @ Unrepresented Nations & Peoples Organization
  • islandfolklore.com – Taiwan’s Cultures and Communities @ Island Folklore . com

  • The principle categories of “People Groups” on the present-day Island of Taiwan can be considered to be:

  • (i.) Indigenous Peoples of Taiwan (臺灣原住民族)
  • (ii.) Han Chinese Groups (漢人), including the Hoklo People (福佬人), the Hakka People (客家), and Waishengren (外省人).
  • (iii.) Recent Immigrants & New Residents

  • Each category of People Group is discussed in separate sections below.

  • (i.) Indigenous Peoples of Taiwan – 臺灣原住民族

  • Indigenous Peoples of Taiwan (原住民族) are the island’s original inhabitants, with histories stretching back thousands of years. Together, Indigenous peoples make up about 2–3% of Taiwan’s population. They belong mainly to the family of speakers of the Austronesian Language Group, linking them culturally and linguistically to peoples across the Pacific. Many groups of the Indigenous Peoples are concentrated in lands along the eastern fringe Taiwan, in the central mountains & in the southern counties. The Indigenous Peoples of the Island of Taiwan have distinct languages, rituals, kinship systems &traditional territories. They have strong ties to their lands, to ancestral spirits & to their individual cultures that are reinforced by seasonal ceremonies.

  • wikipedia.org – Taiwan Indigenous Peoples – 臺灣原住民族 @ Wikipedia . org (Chinese)
  • wikipedia.org @ Taiwanese Indigenous Peoples @ Wikipedia . org (English)
  • cip.gov.tw – The Council of Indigenous Peoples website

  • youtube.com – Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Introduction

  • knowledge.gov.taipei – The Sixteen Clans of Indigenous Peoples @ Taipei City Government Indigenous Peoples Affairs Commission website

  • iwgia.org – The Indigenous Peoples of Taiwan 2023 @ IWGIA – International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (a global human rights organisation dedicated to promoting & defending Indigenous Peoples’ rights)
  • iwgia.org – Indigenous Peoples in Taiwan @ IWGIA – International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (a global human rights organisation dedicated to promoting & defending Indigenous Peoples’ rights)

  • hl.gov.tw – Introduction to the Tribes @ Indigenous Peoples Department of Hualien County website

  • The Sixteen “officially recognized” Indigenous People Groups

  • In addition to the 16 recognized groups, there are several Indigenous People Groups who are seeking national recognition:

  • Arikun People (阿立昆)
  • The Babuza People (巴布薩族)
  • Hoanya (洪雅)

  • The Kaxabu (or Kahabu) People (噶哈巫族)
  • Ketagalan (凱達格蘭
  • The Lloa People (羅亞族 or 魯羅阿族)

  • The Makatao PEople (平埔族; also 山脚人 or 馬卡道)
  • Papora (拍瀑拉)
  • Pazeh (巴則海)
  • Siraya (西拉雅)

  • (ii.) Han Chinese Groups (漢人), including the Hoklo People (福佬人), the Hakka People (客家), and “Waishengren” (外省人)

  • Han Taiwanese are also known as “Taiwanese Han” (臺灣漢人), “Taiwanese Han Chinese”, or “Han Chinese Taiwanese”. They are people of full or partial ethnic Han ancestry who live on the Island of Taiwan. According to the Executive Yuan of Taiwan, they comprise 95 to 97 percent of the population on the Island of Taiwan. The population of Taiwan also includes people of Austronesian heritage & other non-Han people.

  • Major waves of Han immigration from the adjoining Chinese Mainland to the Island of Taiwan started in the 17th century. There was a recent wave at the end of Chinese Civil War in 1949. Han Taiwanese on the Island of Taiwan mainly speak three languages: Mandarin, Hokkien & Hakka.

  • There is no simple uniform definition of Han Taiwanese. To determine if a Taiwanese is Han, common criteria include: (i.) immigration background (from continental East Asia); (ii.) speaking a Chinese language as their mother tongue; and (iii.) observance of traditional Han festivals. Sometimes a negative definition is employed, where Han people are those who are “not non-Han”.”

  • Taiwanese Han ethnic groups include the Hoklo people and Hakka people that had arrived in Taiwan before World War II (sometimes called “benshengren”), as well those and other Han people that arrived shortly after World War II (sometimes called “waishengren”). The distinction between “benshengren” and “waishengren” is now less important due to intermarriages and the rise of a Taiwanese identity. In addition, there are Han that do not fall into the above categories, including the Puxian-speaking people in Kinmen County, the Mindong-speaking people on the Island of Matsu, and various newly arrived immigrants of ethnic Han heritage.

  • Those who trace their ancestry to Quanzhou and Zhangzhou from Fujian make up 70% of Taiwan’s population. 15% originate from Longyan and Meixian from Fujian and Guangdong respectively whilst 12% come from other provinces from mainland China. The rest are either Taiwanese aborigines, ethnic minorities from mainland China or foreign spouses.
  • wikipedia.org – Taiwanese people (臺灣人) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Han Taiwanese (臺灣漢人) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Han Chinese (漢人; 汉人) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Executive Yuan (行政院) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Republic of China (中華民國) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Austronesian people (南岛民族) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Chinese Civil War (國共內戰) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Taiwanese Mandarin (臺灣國語) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Taiwanese Hokkien (臺灣閩南語) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Taiwanese Hakka (臺灣客家語 / 臺灣客話) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Demographics of Taiwan (臺灣人口) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Chinese language ( 漢語, 中文, 漢文 ) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – List of observances set by the Chinese calendar (漢族傳統節日) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Hoklo people (福佬人) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Hakka people (客家人) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Benshengren (本省人) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Waishengren (臺灣外省人) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Taiwanese people (臺灣人) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Pu–Xian Min (莆仙話) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Eastern Min (閩東語) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Quanzhou (泉州市) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Zhangzhou (漳州市) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Fujian (福建) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Longyan (龙岩市) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Meixian (Meizhou, 梅县区) @ Wikipedia . org
  • wikipedia.org – Guangdong (廣東 · 广东) @ Wikipedia . org

  • The population of Han Chinese on the Island of Taiwan is contained within distinct subgroups the have different migration histories & cultural traits: (i.) the Hoklo People (福佬人); (ii.) the Hakka People (客家); and (iii.) Waishengren (外省人).

  • The Hoklo people (福佬人) are a Han Chinese sub-ethnic group who speak Hokkien, a Southern Min language, or trace their ancestry to southeastern Fujian Province on the Chinese Mainland to the west of Taiwan. They are known by various related terms such as “Banlam People” (閩南人), “Minnan People”, “Fujianese People” or more commonly in Southeast Asia as the Hokkien People (福建人). The Hokkien People have a distinct culture and they exert a strong influence on food, folk religion & daily life on the Island of Taiwan, particularly in the urban areas. Hokkien shrines & temples have a distinctive architecure with tilted sharp eaves, high and slanted top roofs & finely detailed decorative inlays of wood and porcelain. The Hokkien language, which includes Taiwanese Hokkien, is the mainstream Southern Min, which is partially mutually intelligible to other Southern Min varieties such as Teochew, Zhongshan, Haklau, and Zhenan.

  • The Hakka (客家) are also referred to as “Hakka Chinese” or “Hakka-speaking Chinese”. Hakka People (客家) comprise around 15% of the population of the Island of Taiwan. The Hakka People of Taiwan are known for their history of migration & cultural resilience. Unlike other Han Chinese people groups, the Hakkas are not named after a geographical region, a province, county or city. The Chinese characters for Hakka (客家) literally mean “guest families”. They speak the Hakka language and have distinct customs, architecture & cuisine. Hakka People on the Island of Taiwan are concentrated in Taoyuan, Hsinchu & Miaoli Counties, and in parts of southern Taiwan.
  • hakka.gov.tw
  • chakcg.kcg.gov.tw – Council for Hakka Affairs of The Kaohsiung City Government
  • hakka.gov.tw
  • hakka.gov.tw – Hakka Diversity in Taiwan
  • hakka.gov.tw
  • hakka.gov.tw

  • Waishengren (外省人) are the descendants of people who arrived from the Chinese Mainland after 1945 and especially around 1949 at the time of the Communist Revolution on the Chinese Mainland. The Waishengren Families came from many regions across China. They have been historically influential in politics, military & education on the Island of Taiwan since 1949.

  • Recent Immigrants & New Residents

  • In the last few decades, the Island of Taiwan has become more multicultural due to the recent immigration of other People Groups from Southeast Asia. Immigrants from Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand & the Philippines, have arrived to work in manufacturing, fishing & as caregivers to the elderly & handicapped. Their languages & cultures are increasingly visible in Taiwanese society. There are also smaller populations from Japan, Korea, Europe & North America, principally among the growing numbers of international students & professionals.

  • wikipedia.org – Taiwanese people – 臺灣人 @ Wikipedia . org
  • britannica.com – Taiwan ethnic groups @ Britannica . com
  • joshuaproject.net – People groups in Taiwan @ The Joshua Project website
  • culturalsurvival.org – The First Nations of Taiwan: A Special Report on Taiwan’s indigenous peoples @ Cultural Survival website
  • museum.org.tw – Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines @ Museum . org
  • guidetotaipei.com – Who are the Taiwanese aboriginals @ Guide to Taipei website
  • wikipedia.org – List of indigenous peoples of Taiwan @ Wikipedia . org
  • unpo.org – People groups in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder
  • wikipedia.org – People groups in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder
  • wikipedia.org – People groups in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder
  • joshuaproject.net – People groups in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder
  • worldatlas.com – People groups in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder
  • britannica.com – People groups in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder
  • indexmundi.com – People groups in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder
  • nationsencyclopedia.com – People groups in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder
  • study.com – People groups in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder
  • commisceo-global.com – People groups in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder
  • culture.teldap.tw – People groups in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder

  • EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .

  • scholar.google.com – People Groups in the culture of Taiwan – 台灣文化中族群的角色 @ Google Scholar
  • youtube.com – People Groups in the culture of Taiwan – 台灣文化中族群的角色 @ YouTube . com
  • images.google.com – People Groups in the culture of Taiwan – 台灣文化中族群的角色 @ Google Images

ETHNIC MINORITIES – 少 數 民 族

  • Ethnic Minorities in Taiwan – 台灣文化中少數民族的角色

  • EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .

  • scholar.google.com – Ethnic Minorities in the culture of Taiwan – 台灣文化中少數民族的角色 @ Google Scholar
  • youtube.com – Ethnic Minorities in the culture of Taiwan – 台灣文化中少數民族的角色 @ YouTube . com
  • images.google.com – Ethnic Minorities in the culture of Taiwan – 台灣文化中少數民族的角色 @ Google Images

DEMOMGRAPHICS – 人 口 分 布

Demographics of Taiwan. (tradingeconomics.com)

Residents per square km. (wikiwand.com)

Population pyramid for Taiwan in 2014, showing number of male and female inhabitants per year of age
Population pyramid for Taiwan in 2014. (wikiwand.com)

  • Demographics of Taiwan – 台灣文化中人口分布的角色

  • ey.gov.tw – Geography & demographics of Taiwan @ Executive Yuan website
  • wsj.com – Demographics in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder
  • quora.com – Demographics in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder
  • ndc.gov.tw – Population projections for Taiwan @ National Development Council of Taiwan – website
  • tradingeconomics.com – Demographics in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder
  • cia.gov – Demographics in the culture of Taiwan – backgrounder

  • EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .

  • scholar.google.com – Demographics in the culture of Taiwan – 台灣文化中人口分布的角色 @ Google Scholar
  • youtube.com – Demographics in the culture of Taiwan – 台灣文化中人口分布的角色 @ YouTube . com
  • images.google.com – Demographics in the culture of Taiwan – 台灣文化中人口分布的角色 @ Google Images

* * * * *

Click here for the Cloudbridge Project Home Page for Taiwan

Click here for links to Culture for Taiwan

Click here for links to Business for Taiwan

Click here for links to Travel for Taiwan

Click here for links to Environment & Nature for Taiwan

For links to Languages & Peoples for Taiwan . . . . .

. . . . . please scroll up through this page

* * * * *

NOTE : This site contains links to our ”favorite” and “most useful” websites . . . but the CloudBridge Project does not endorse or guarantee any of the products or services available through the links on the pages of this website.

本站包含了我們的 “最愛” 以及 “最有用” 的網站連結，但雲橋語文計劃並不保證其連結的有效性或對其背書.

Welcome to send us an email with your thoughts or comments:

欢迎用电子邮件的方式分享您的意见和建议:

Email: CloudBridgeTaiwan@gmail . com

LATEST PAGE UPDATE: January 09 , 2026
最後一次更新時間為:  2026 / 01 / 09

Copyright ©2021 CloudBridge Project. All rights reserved.
版權所有 ©2021 雲橋語文計劃. 保留所有權利.