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[[What do we call it? You should call it this!
Another damn OOC thread about Hokkien because it's so hard to stay IC with these patay-heads
Tag: @tanchunkiet @catielila @joshiunn @Bad_Linguistics @brianhioe @TimMaddog]] 1/
Another damn OOC thread about Hokkien because it's so hard to stay IC with these patay-heads
Tag: @tanchunkiet @catielila @joshiunn @Bad_Linguistics @brianhioe @TimMaddog]] 1/
What do we call the cross-ethnic lingua franca on Taiwan that ultimately originated with settlers from southern Fujian?
Here's some historical context off the top of my head. Corrections are welcome. 2/
Here's some historical context off the top of my head. Corrections are welcome. 2/
1. Long before the DPP and its sEpArAtIst IdEoLogY existed, Hokkien varieties on Taiwan were called Taiwanese (臺灣語 Taiwan-go) by the Japanese colonial authorities, despite the diversity of local languages. (Hakka was called 広東語, bizarrely enough.) 3/
This would be the name by which its speakers in Taiwan (not just Holos) would call it for most of the 20th century.
2. Hokkien is the term preferred in SEA and among English-speaking laypersons. 4/
2. Hokkien is the term preferred in SEA and among English-speaking laypersons. 4/
But wait - doesn't declaring yourself Hokkien erase the experiences of Foochow, Puxian, and speakers of other languages in Fujian? 
OK, couldn't resist that. Moving on.
3. Southern Min appears to be of linguistic scholarly origin, but it includes Teochew and Hainanese. 5/
OK, couldn't resist that. Moving on.
3. Southern Min appears to be of linguistic scholarly origin, but it includes Teochew and Hainanese. 5/
During KMT rule on TW, all expressions of local culture and identity were suppressed. So obvious that it bears no need for review.
While people were calling it Taiwanese, the KMT insisted on calling it the Southern Min dialect. 6/
While people were calling it Taiwanese, the KMT insisted on calling it the Southern Min dialect. 6/
That it's technically more accurate is not the issue. The imposition of the exonym was designed to suppress localism and to subsume/demean locals.
Nonetheless, Taiwanese people persisted in expressing their cultures, mainly in musical form. 7/
Nonetheless, Taiwanese people persisted in expressing their cultures, mainly in musical form. 7/
4. Here's multiple layers of irony: While Hokkien was being censored in mainstream media, Taiwanese musicians were still releasing Enka records and calling them Taiwanese.
Hokkien speakers in SEA ate them all up. Taiwan was the undisputed leader of Hokkien pop worldwide. 8/
Hokkien speakers in SEA ate them all up. Taiwan was the undisputed leader of Hokkien pop worldwide. 8/
This was their outlet all through the various linguicidal Speak Mandarin/Good English/Malay-Indonesian campaigns. I'm sure my SEA friends can back me up on this one.
Interesting that they didn't see the need to kvetch about those records being labeled "Taiwanese" back then.
9/
Interesting that they didn't see the need to kvetch about those records being labeled "Taiwanese" back then.
9/
5. After democratization and localism, Taiwanese society (civil society and government in dialogue) was figuring out the place of all its ethnic groups, old and new.
The role of Hokkien would be reexamined. Do we call it Taiwanese or not? 10/
The role of Hokkien would be reexamined. Do we call it Taiwanese or not? 10/
Different factions and ideologies said different opinions.
Holo nationalists and independence advocates called for it to remain being called Taiwanese and replace Mandarin as the government's language, citing a "need" for a unified Taiwanese national identity. 11/
Holo nationalists and independence advocates called for it to remain being called Taiwanese and replace Mandarin as the government's language, citing a "need" for a unified Taiwanese national identity. 11/
Others (both ROCists and localists) pushed back, correctly saying that non-Holos (Plains Indigenous were a non-factor and arguably still are) need to have their cultures and languages respected as equally Taiwanese.12/
The education system - y'know, that nefarious splittist brainwashing machine - currently designates the term Minnan as politically neutral, alongside Hakka and indigenous languages as mother tongues.
People still colloquially call it Taiwanese. Old habits die hard. 13/
People still colloquially call it Taiwanese. Old habits die hard. 13/
So all in all, the "correct" term for the language in question depends on your perspective.
Whither "Minnan"? Do you call it that because you want to respect the diversity of Taiwanese people? Or do you call it that because TW frogs are uppity and need to know their place? 14/
Whither "Minnan"? Do you call it that because you want to respect the diversity of Taiwanese people? Or do you call it that because TW frogs are uppity and need to know their place? 14/
The question may never see a resolution. But in the end, it's not for outsiders to decide Taiwan's linguistic politics, especially those with a vested interest in destroying us. If the Taotao have a problem with the paylangs, that's up to us to work things out with them. 15/End]]
