Formosan Languages Article Index for
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Formosan Languages




  region Taiwan
  familycolor Austronesian
  proto-name Proto-Formosan Language
  child1 Atayalic
  child2 Tsouic


The Formosan languages are the languages of the .

The aboriginal languages of Taiwan have significance in Historical Linguistics , since in all likelihood Taiwan was the place of origin of the entire Austronesian Language family. According to , the Formosan languages form nine of the ten principal branches of the Austronesian language family, while the one remaining principal branch contains nearly 1,200 Malayo-Polynesian Languages found outside of Taiwan.Diamond, Jared M. ''[http://faculty.washington.edu/plape/pacificarchwin06/readings/Diamond%20nature%202000.pdf "Taiwan's gift to the world"]''. Nature, Volume 403, February 2000, pp. 709-710 Although linguists disagree with some details of Blust's analysis, a broad consensus has coalesced around the conclusion that the Austronesian languages originated in Taiwan.Fox, James J.'' "Current Developments in Comparative Austronesian Studies" ''. Paper prepared for Symposium Austronesia Pascasarjana Linguististik dan Kajian Budaya. Universitas Udayana, Bali 19-20 August 2004. This theory has been strengthened by recent studies in human population genetics.Trejaut JA, Kivisild T, Loo JH, Lee CL, He CL, ''et al.''(2005) ''Traces of archaic mitochondrial lineages persist in Austronesian-speaking Formosan populations.'' PLoS Biol 3(8): e247.



RECENT HISTORY

See Also: Taiwanese aborigines


All Formosan languages are slowly being replaced by the culturally dominant Mandarin Chinese . In recent decades the Republic Of China government started an aboriginal reappreciation program that included the reintroduction of Formosan First Language in Taiwanese schools. However, the results of this initiative have been disappointing.Lee, Hui-chi Lee (2004). ''A Survey of Language Ability, Language Use and Language Attitudes of Young Aborigines in Taiwan.'' In Hoffmann, Charlotte & Jehannes Ytsma (Eds.) Trilingualism in Family, School, and Community pp.101-117. Clevedon, Buffalo: Multilingual Matters. ISBN 1-85359-693-0 Huteson, Greg. (2003). [http://www.sil.org/silesr/2003/silesr2003-012.pdf ''Sociolinguistic survey report for the Tona and Maga dialects of the Rukai Language.''] SIL Electronic Survey Reports 2003-012, Dallas, TX: SIL International.


LIST OF LANGUAGES

''For classification, see Austronesian Languages .''


It is often difficult to decide where to draw the boundary between a language and a dialect, causing some minor disagreement among scholars regarding the inventory of Formosan languages. There is even more uncertainty regarding many extinct or Assimilated Formosan tribes, since our knowledge of these is often sketchy at best. Frequently cited examples of Formosan languages are given below, but the list should not be considered exhaustive.


Living languages

  • Atayalic languages:

  • --- Atayal

  • --- Seediq (also referred to as Truku )

  • Bunun

  • Amis: Amis , Nataoran Amis (The status of Nataoran Amis as a separate language is disputed. It is commonly considered a dialect of Amis.)

  • Kavalan (listed in some sources as moribund, though further analysis may show otherwise Li, Paul Jen-kuei and Shigeru Tsuchida. 2006 press Kavalan Dictionary《噶瑪蘭語詞典》. Institute of Linguistics, Academia Sinica Monograph Series No.A19. Taipei: Academia Sinica) )

  • Paiwan

  • Pazeh (moribund, only one speaker left)

  • Saisiyat

  • Puyuma

  • Rukai

  • Tsouic languages:

  • --- Tsou

  • --- Saaroa (moribund)

  • --- Kanakanabu (moribund)

  • Thao (moribund)





Extinct languages

  • Babuza

  • Basay

  • Favorlang

  • Hoanya

  • Ketangalan, Ketagalan

  • Makatao, Makattao

  • Papora, Popora

  • Siraya

  • Taivoan

  • Taokas



REFERENCES








FURTHER READING

  • Tsuchida, S. (2003). ''Kanakanavu texts (Austronesian Formosan)''. Endangered Languages of the Pacific Rim .

  • Zeitoun, E. (2002). ''Nominalization in Formosan languages''. Taipei: Institute of Linguistics (Preparatory Office), Academia Sinica.

  • Mackay, G. L. (1893). ''Chinese-Romanized dictionary of the Formosan vernacular''. Shanghai: Printed at the Presbyterian Mission Press.

  • Happart, G., & Hedhurst, W. H. (1840). ''Dictionary of the Favorlang dialect of the Formosan language''. Batavia: printed at Parapattan.



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