Editing Taiwanese Hokkien (section)

== Sociolinguistics ==
=== Regional variations ===
[[File:Taiwanese Hokkien Map.svg|thumb|right|Distribution of Taiwanese:<ref>{{cite journal |author=Ang Ui-jin |author-link=Ang Ui-jin | script-title = zh:台灣的語種分布與分區 |title=Táiwān de yǔzhǒng fēnbù yǔ fēnqū |trans-title=The Distribution and Regionalization of Varieties in Taiwan | publisher = [[Academia Sinica]] |year=2013 |journal=Language and Linguistics |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=315–369|language=zh-hant |url=http://www.ling.sinica.edu.tw/Files/LL/Docments/Journals/14.2/LL14.2-04-Ang%20121227.pdf}} Map 5, p. 355.</ref>
{{legend|#ff8080|Quanzhou dialect predominant}}
{{legend|#8080ff|Zhangzhou dialect predominant}}
{{legend|#ff80ff|Both Quanzhou and Zhangzhou dialects}}
]]
<!--[[File:Taiwanese Hokkien subdialects map.png|thumb|A map of the different accents found in Taiwanese Hokkien (the coastal accent is incorrectly labelled).]]-->

The [[Prestige (sociolinguistics)|prestige variant]] of Taiwanese Hokkien is the southern speech found in [[Tainan]] and [[Kaohsiung]]. Other major variants are the northern speech, the central speech (near [[Taichung]] and the port town of [[Lukang, Changhua|Lukang]]), and the northern (northeastern) coastal speech (dominant in [[Yilan County, Taiwan|Yilan]]).

The distinguishing feature of the coastal speech is the use of the vowel {{angle bracket|uiⁿ}} in place of {{angle bracket|ng}}. The northern speech is distinguished by the absence of the [[#Tones|8th tone]], and some vowel exchanges (for example, {{angle bracket|i}} and {{angle bracket|u}}, {{angle bracket|e}} and {{angle bracket|oe}}). The central speech has an additional vowel {{IPA|[ɨ]}} or {{IPA|[ø]}} between {{angle bracket|i}} and {{angle bracket|u}}, which may be represented as {{angle bracket|ö}}. There are also a number of other pronunciation and lexical differences between the Taiwanese variants; the online Ministry of Education dictionary specifies these to a resolution of eight regions on Taiwan proper, in addition to [[Kinmen]] and [[Penghu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://twblg.dict.edu.tw/holodict_new/index/fulu_fangyan_level2.jsp?condition=cuankho|script-title=zh:方言差"語音差異表|trans-title=Table of Pronunciation Differences|year=2011|work=臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典|publisher=Ministry of Education, R.O.C.|language=zh|access-date=8 July 2011|archive-date=6 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006055549/http://twblg.dict.edu.tw/holodict_new/index/fulu_fangyan_level2.jsp?condition=cuankho|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://twblg.dict.edu.tw/holodict_new/index/fulu_fangyan_level2.jsp?condition=cuankho_p|script-title=zh:方言差"詞彙差異表|trans-title=Table of Vocabulary Differences|year=2011|work=臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典|publisher=Ministry of Education, R.O.C.|language=zh|access-date=8 July 2011|archive-date=6 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006055529/http://twblg.dict.edu.tw/holodict_new/index/fulu_fangyan_level2.jsp?condition=cuankho_p|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Concerning the fifth (rising) tone in normal sandhi patterns, the Quanzhou/Coastal/Northern dialects change to the seventh (mid-level) tone, whereas the Zhangzhou/"Mixed"/Southern dialects change to the third (low falling) tone.

Certain new north–south distinctions have appeared in recent decades.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}<ref>{{Cite journal|author1-link=Jack C. Richards|last=Richards|first=Jack C.|date=1977-01-01|title=Variation in Singapore English |jstor=43135170|journal=Interlanguage Studies Bulletin |volume=2|issue=2|pages=131–151}}</ref> The fourth and eighth tones tend to be reversed in the north and south.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pages.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/resources/PronouncingTaiwanese.html|title=Jordan: Pronouncing Romanized Taiwanese Hokkien |website=pages.ucsd.edu}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=November 2016}}

==== Quanzhou&ndash;Zhangzhou inclinations ====

[[Hokkien]] immigrants to Taiwan originated from [[Quanzhou]] prefecture (44.8%) and [[Zhangzhou]] prefecture (35.2%).{{citation needed|date=February 2015}} The original phonology from these regions was spread around Taiwan during the immigration process. With the advanced development of transportation and greater mobility of the Taiwanese population, Taiwanese speech has steered itself towards a mixture of Quanzhou and Zhangzhou speech, known as ''Chiang&ndash;Chôan-lām'' (漳泉濫, in Mandarin ''Zhāng&ndash;Quán làn'').{{sfnp|Ang|1987}} Due to different proportions of the mixture, some regions are inclined more towards the Quanzhou accent, while others are inclined more towards the Zhangzhou accent.

In general, the Quanzhou accent is more common along the coastal region and is known as the ''hái-kháu'' accent; the Zhangzhou accent is more common within the mountainous region of Taiwan and is known as the ''lāi-po͘'' accent. The regional variation within Taiwanese may be attributed to variations in the mixture of Quanzhou and Zhangzhou accents and/or lexicons. It ranges from Lukang accent (based on Quanzhou accent) on one end to the northern coastal [[Yilan City|Yilan]] accent (based on Zhangzhou accent) on another end. Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Taitung accents, on the other hand, are closest to the prestige accent.

'''{{center|Variations in Taiwanese Hokkien accents}}'''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:1em auto 1em auto"
|-
! style="background:#FFA000; color:black" | [[Quanzhou]] accent
|-
| style="background:#fc0;"| [[Lukang, Changhua|Lukang]]
|-
| style="background:#fc6;"| [[Penghu]], [[Taixi, Yunlin|Taixi]], [[Dajia District|Dajia]]—[[Budai, Chiayi|Budai]] coastal region (''hái-kháu'')
|-
| style="background:#fc9;"| [[Taipei]], [[Hsinchu]] (very similar to [[Tong'an, Xiamen|Tong'an]] accent)
|-
| style="background:#fcc;"| [[Chiayi]]—[[Kaohsiung]] surrounding
area, [[Taitung City|Taitung]] (similar to [[Amoy dialect|Amoy]] accent)
|-
| style="background:#fcf;"| [[Taichung Basin|Taichung]], [[Changhua City|Changhua]]—[[Yunlin County|Yunlin]] inland area, [[Taoyuan, Taiwan|North Taoyuan]] (''lāi-po͘'')
|-
| style="background:#c9f;"| [[Yilan City|Yilan]]
|-
! style= "background:#BBA1CB; color:black" | [[Zhangzhou]] accent
|}

==== Recent terminological distinctions ====
Recent research has found a need for new terminology of Taiwanese dialects, mainly because the Quanzhou and Zhangzhou dialects in Taiwan developed independently from those in Fujian. Thus, some scholars (i.e., Klöter, following {{lang|zh-tw|董忠司}}) have divided Taiwanese into five subdialects, based on geographic region:{{sfnp|Klöter|2005|p=4}}
#''hái-kháu'' ({{lang|zh-tw|海口腔}}): west coast, based on what was formerly referred to as Quanzhou dialect (represented by the Lukang accent)
#''phian-hái'' ({{lang|zh-tw|偏海腔}}): coastal (represented by the Nanliao ({{lang|zh-tw|南寮}}) accent)
#''lāi-po͘'' ({{lang|zh-tw|內埔腔}}): western inner plain, mountain regions, based on the Zhangzhou dialect (represented by the Yilan accent)
#''phian-lāi'' ({{lang|zh-tw|偏內腔}}): interior (represented by the [[Taibao]] accent)
#''thong-hêng'' ({{lang|zh-tw|通行腔}}): common accents (represented by the Taipei (spec. [[Datong District, Taipei|Datong]]) accent in the north and the Tainan accent in the south)
Both ''phian-hái'' and ''phian-lāi'' are intermediate dialects between ''hái-kháu'' and ''lāi-po͘'', these also known as ''thong-hêng'' ({{lang|zh-tw|通行腔}}) or "{{lang|zh-tw|不泉不漳}}". In some ways this mixed dialect is similar to the Amoy dialect, which itself is a blend of Quanzhou and Zhangzhou speech. The common dialect refers to that which can be heard on radio, television, official announcements, etc.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

=== Fluency ===
A great majority of people in Taiwan can speak both [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] and Hokkien, but the degree of fluency varies widely.<ref name="housing census" /> There are, however, small but significant numbers of people in Taiwan, mainly but not exclusively [[Hakka people|Hakka]] and [[waishengren|Mainlanders]], who cannot speak Taiwanese fluently. A shrinking percentage of the population, mainly people born before the 1950s, cannot speak Mandarin at all or learned to speak Mandarin later in life, though some of these speak Japanese fluently. Urban, working-class Hakkas, as well as younger, southern-Taiwan Mainlanders, tend to have better, even native-like fluency. Approximately half of the Hakka in Taiwan do speak Taiwanese. There are many families of mixed Hakka, Hoklo, and [[Taiwanese aborigines|Aboriginal]] bloodlines. There is, however, a large percentage of people in Taiwan, regardless of their background, whose ability to understand and read written Taiwanese is greater than their ability to speak it. This is the case with some singers who can sing Taiwanese songs with native-like proficiency but can neither speak nor understand the language.

Which variant is used depends strongly on the context, and in general, people will use Mandarin in more formal situations and Taiwanese in more informal situations. Taiwanese tends to get used more in [[rural]] areas, while Mandarin is used more in [[urban area|urban]] settings. Older people tend to use Taiwanese, while younger people tend to use Mandarin. In the broadcast media where Mandarin is used in many genres, [[soap opera]], [[variety show]]s, and even some news programs can also be found in Taiwanese.

=== Special literary and art forms ===

''Chhit-jī-á'' (literally, "that which has seven syllables") is a [[poetry|poetic]] [[meter (poetry)|meter]] where each verse has 7 syllables.

There is a special form of [[music]]al/[[drama]]tic performance ''koa-á-hì'': the [[Taiwanese opera]]; the subject matter is usually a [[history|historical event]]. A similar form ''pò͘-tē-hì'' ([[glove puppetry]]) is also unique and has been elaborated in the past two decades into impressive [[television|televised]] spectacles.

See [[Taiwanese cuisine]] for names of several local dishes.

===Bible translations===
{{See also|Bible translations into the languages of Taiwan#Taiwanese}}
[[File:Bibles in Taiwanese.jpg|thumb|right|A collection of translations of the Bible in Taiwanese. Top left, ''Today's Taiwanese'' version; top right, the Red-Cover Bible; bottom, Barclay's translation.]]

As with many other languages, the [[Chinese Bible Translations|translations of the Bible]] in Taiwan marked milestones in the standardization attempts of the language and its orthography.

The first translation of the Bible in Amoy or Taiwanese in the Pe̍h-ōe-jī orthography was by the first missionary to Taiwan, [[James Laidlaw Maxwell]], with the New Testament ''Lán ê Kiù-chú Iâ-so͘ Ki-tok ê Sin-iok'' published in 1873 and the Old Testament ''Kū-iok ê Sèng Keng'' in 1884.

[[File:Taiwanese Bible Chim-gian 1933.jpg|thumb|left|A copy of Barclay's Amoy translation, opened to the Proverbs.]]

The next translation of the Bible in Taiwanese or Amoy was by the missionary to Taiwan, [[Thomas Barclay (missionary)|Thomas Barclay]], carried out in Fujian and Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biblesociety-tw.org/native.htm |script-title=zh:本土聖經 |access-date=2008-07-14 |language=zh |archive-date=14 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614052448/http://www.biblesociety-tw.org/native.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www32.ocn.ne.jp/~sunliong/lunwen-12j.htm |script-title=ja:書評『聖經－－台語漢字本』 |access-date=2008-07-14 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080120005258/http://www32.ocn.ne.jp/~sunliong/lunwen-12j.htm|archive-date=20 January 2008}}</ref> A New Testament translation was completed and published in 1916. The resulting work containing the Old and the New Testaments, in the [[Pe̍h-ōe-jī]] orthography, was completed in 1930 and published in 1933 as the {{ill|Amoy Romanized Bible|nan|Sin-kū-iok ê Sèng-keng}} ({{Lang-zh|c=|s=|t=|poj=Sin-kū-iok ê Sèng-keng|links=no}}). 2000 copies of the Amoy Romanized Bible were confiscated by the Taiwan Garrison from the Bible Society of Taiwan in 1975. This edition was later transliterated into Han characters and published as {{ill|Sèng-keng Tâi-gí Hàn-jī Pún|nan|Sèng-keng Tâi-gí Hàn-jī Pún}} ({{Lang-zh|c=|s=|t=聖經台語漢字本|labels=no|scase=}}) in 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://tailo.fhl.net/Godspeak/Godspeak26.html |title=台語信望愛 - 4.1.4 《台語漢字本》|website=tailo.fhl.net |language=zh-TW }}</ref>

[[File:Ang-phoe Seng-keng te-571-bin.jpg|thumb|right|A page from the Red-Cover Bible]]
The Ko–Tân ([[Kerygma]]) Colloquial Taiwanese Version of the New Testament (''Sin-iok'') in Pe̍h-ōe-jī, also known as the {{Interlanguage link|Red Cover Bible|nan|Âng-phoê Sèng-keng|WD=}} ({{Lang-zh|c=|s=|t=|poj=Âng-phoê Sèng-keng|labels=no}}), was published in 1973 as an ecumenical effort between the Protestant [[Presbyterian Church in Taiwan]] and the Roman Catholic mission [[Maryknoll]]. This translation used a more modern vocabulary (somewhat influenced by Mandarin), and reflected the central Taiwan dialect, as the Maryknoll mission was based near [[Taichung|Tâi-tiong]]. It was soon confiscated by the Kuomintang government (which objected to the use of Latin orthography) in 1975.

A translation using the principle of [[Dynamic and formal equivalence|functional equivalence]], "{{ill|Today's Taiwanese Romanized Version|nan|Hiān-tāi Tâi-gú E̍k-pún}}" ({{Lang-zh|t=現代台語譯本|poj=Hiān-tāi Tâi-gú E̍k-pún|labels=no}}), containing only the New Testament, again in Pe̍h-ōe-jī, was published in 2008<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peopo.org/chuniok/post/12934|title=現代台語新約羅馬字聖經 出版感謝e話 |website=www.peopo.org }}</ref> as a collaboration between the [[Presbyterian Church in Taiwan]] and the [[Bible Society in Taiwan]]; a parallel-text version with both Han-character and Pe̍h-ōe-jī orthographies was published in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bstwn.org/bstwn/dm/10.pdf|title=現代台語新約附詩箴2013漢羅版}}</ref> A translation of the Old Testament following the same principle was completed and the whole Bible was published in 2021 as a parallel-text volume.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biblesociety-tw.org/translation/Taiwanese.htm|title=台語聖經|website=www.biblesociety-tw.org|language=zh-TW|access-date=16 April 2008|archive-date=10 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910024231/http://www.biblesociety-tw.org/translation/Taiwanese.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=現代台語譯本 漢羅版(路得記) by bstwn |url=https://issuu.com/bstwn/docs/taiwanesebible |website=Issuu |date=3 August 2021 }}</ref>

Another translation using the principle of functional equivalence, "Common Taiwanese Bible" ({{Lang-zh|c=|s=|t=|poj=Choân-bîn Tâi-gí Sèng-keng|labels=no}}), with versions of Pe̍h-ōe-jī, Han characters and Ruby version (both Han characters and Pe̍h-ōe-jī) was published in 2015, available in printed and online.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Translation<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bible.fhl.net/new/read.php?chap=3&sb=%25E7%25B4%2584&sc=3&skey=&ssn=1&VERSION26=ttvcl2021&VERSION28=tte&VERSION30=apskcl&VERSION32=bklcl&VERSION37=sgebklcl&sub1=%E7%89%88%E6%9C%AC%E5%B0%8D%E7%85%A7&strongflag=1&TABFLAG=1&nodic=&TAIU=0&maps=&tmp=&chineses=%E7%B4%84&chap=3|title=聖經閱讀|website=bible.fhl.net}}</ref>
![[Gospel of John|John]] [[John 3:16|3:16]]
|-
|1933 Taiwanese Bible Romanized Character Edition (Thomas Barclay)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lingshyang.com/bible/instpage.php?r=&w=100%25&h=800&url=www.lingshyang.com%2Fbible%2Fbible_rome%2Fbible_5.php |title=Taiwanese Bible Romanized Character Edition |access-date=2022-07-17 |archive-date=2020-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627235638/http://www.lingshyang.com/bible/instpage.php?r=&w=100%25&h=800&url=www.lingshyang.com%2Fbible%2Fbible_rome%2Fbible_5.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|In-ūi Siōng-tè chiong to̍k-siⁿ ê Kiáⁿ siúⁿ-sù sè-kan, hō͘ kìⁿ-nā sìn I ê lâng bōe tîm-lûn, ōe tit-tio̍h éng-oa̍h; I thiàⁿ sè-kan kàu án-ni.
|-
|1973 Ko–Tân/Kerygma “Red Cover Bible” (Âng-phoê Sèng-keng)  
| Siōng-chú chiah-ni̍h thiàⁿ sè-kan-lâng, só͘-í chiah chiong I ê Ko͘-kiáⁿ siúⁿ-sù in, thang hō͘ só͘ ū sìn I ê lâng m̄-bián bia̍t-bông, lâi tit-tio̍h éng-seng.
|-
|1996 Taiwanese Bible Han Character Edition<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lingshyang.com/bible//instpage.php?r=&w=100%&h=800&url=www.lingshyang.com/bible/taiwan_Bible/hb5.php|title=Taiwanese Bible Han Character Edition}}</ref>
|因為上帝將獨生的子賞賜世間，互見若信伊的人，𣍐沈淪，會得著永活，伊疼世間到按呢。
|-
|2013 ≈ 2021 Today’s Taiwanese Romanized Version (Hiān-tāi Tâi-gú E̍k-pún)
|Siōng-tè liân I to̍k-it ê Kiáⁿ to sù hō͘ sè-kan, beh hō͘ ta̍k ê sìn I ê lâng bián bia̍t-bông, hoán-tńg tit-tio̍h éng-oán ê oa̍h-miā, I chiah-ni̍h thiàⁿ sè-kan! 
|-
|2015 Common Taiwanese Bible" (Choân-bîn Tâi-gí Sèng-keng)
| Siōng-tè chiah-ni̍h thiàⁿ sè-kan, sīm-chì siúⁿ-sù to̍k-seⁿ Kiáⁿ, hō͘ só͘-ū sìn I ê lâng bē tîm-lûn, hoán-tńg ē tit tio̍h éng-oán ê oa̍h-miā. 
|}

=== Politics ===<!-- This section is linked from [[Taiwanese pop]] -->
[[File:Banning of POJ.gif|thumb|right|A decree (1955) banning the use of Pe̍h-ōe-jī, a Latin orthography for Taiwanese, in church.]]
Until the 1980s, the use of Taiwanese Hokkien, along with all [[Varieties of Chinese|varieties]] other than [[Taiwanese Mandarin|Mandarin]], was discouraged by the Kuomintang through measures such as banning its use in schools and limiting the amount of Taiwanese broadcast on radio and television. These restrictions were lifted by the 1990s, and the Taiwanese became an emblem of [[Taiwanese localization movement|localization]]. Mandarin remains the predominant language of education, but Taiwanese schools have a "mother tongue" language requirement which can be satisfied with students' choice of the mother tongue: Taiwanese, Hakka, or [[Formosan languages|indigenous languages]].

Although the use of Taiwanese Hokkien over Mandarin was historically part of the [[Taiwan independence movement]], the linkage between politics and language is not as strong as it once was. Some fluency in Taiwanese Hokkien is desirable for political office in Taiwan for both independence and unificationist politicians. At the same time, even some supporters of Taiwan's independence have played down its connection with the Taiwanese in order to gain the support of the [[waishengren|Mainlander]]s and [[Hakka people]].

[[James Soong]] restricted the use of Taiwanese Hokkien and other local tongues in broadcasting while serving as Director of the [[Government Information Office]] earlier in his career, but later became one of the first politicians of Mainlander origin to use it in semi-formal occasions.{{synthesis inline|date=August 2016}} Since then, politicians opposed to Taiwanese independence have used it frequently in rallies, even when they are not native speakers. Conversely, politicians who have traditionally been identified with Taiwan's independence have used Mandarin on formal occasions and semi-formal occasions such as press conferences. An example of the latter is former President [[Chen Shui-bian]], who uses Mandarin in all official state speeches but uses mainly Taiwanese in political rallies and some informal state occasions such as New Year greetings. Former [[President of the Republic of China|President]] [[Tsai Ing-wen]] was criticized by some of her supporters for not using Taiwanese in speeches.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newtaiwan.com.tw/bulletinview.jsp?bulletinid=80826 |access-date=12 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210304195859/https://www.webcitation.org/5dPfuafUb?url=http://www.newtaiwan.com.tw/bulletinview.jsp%3Fbulletinid=80826 |archive-date=4 March 2021 |script-title=zh:蔡英文不說台語 高雄人涼了半截 |trans-title=Tsai Ing-wen doesn't speak Taiwanese; The people in Kaohsiung feel half-disappointed |language=zh}}</ref> Her predecessor [[Ma Ying-jeou]] spoke in Taiwanese during his 2008 [[Double Ten Day]] speech when he was talking about the state of the [[Economy of Taiwan|economy in Taiwan]].

In the early 21st century, there are few differences in language usage between the [[Chinese unification|pro-unification]] leaning [[Pan-Blue Coalition]] and the [[Taiwan independence movement|independence]] leaning [[Pan-Green Coalition]]. Both tend to use Taiwanese at political rallies and sometimes in informal interviews, and both tend to use Mandarin at formal press conferences and official state functions. Both also tend to use more Mandarin in [[Northern Taiwan]] and more Taiwanese in [[Southern Taiwan]]. However, at official party gatherings (as opposed to both Mandarin-leaning state functions and Taiwanese-leaning party rallies), the DPP tends to use Taiwanese while KMT and [[PFP (Taiwan)|PFP]] tend to use Mandarin. The [[Taiwan Solidarity Union]], which advocates a strong line on Taiwan independence, tends to use Taiwanese even in formal press conferences. In speaking, politicians will frequently [[Code-switching|code switch]]. In writing, almost everyone uses [[written vernacular Chinese|vernacular Mandarin]] which is further from Taiwanese, and the use of semi-alphabetic writing or even [[Written Hokkien#Chinese characters|colloquial Taiwanese characters]] is rare.<ref>{{Cite thesis|first=Katsuhiro J. |last=Ota|date=2005 |title=An investigation of written Taiwanese |url=http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10125/11520 |degree=MA|language=en-US|publisher=University of Hawaii at Manoa |hdl=10125/11520}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Mair|first=Victor |title=Taiwanese, Mandarin, and Taiwan's language situation |url=http://pinyin.info/readings/mair/taiwanese.html|access-date=2020-08-06|website=pinyin.info}}</ref>

In 2002, the Taiwan Solidarity Union, a party with about 10% of the [[Legislative Yuan]] seats at the time, suggested making Taiwanese Hokkien a second official language.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lin |first=Mei-chun |title=Hokkien should be given official status, says TSU |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2002/03/10/0000127068 |work=Taipei Times|date=10 March 2002 |page=1 }}</ref> This proposal encountered strong opposition not only from Mainlander groups but also from Hakka and aboriginal groups who felt that it would slight their home languages, as well as others including [[Hoklo people|Hoklo]] who objected to the proposal on logistical grounds and on the grounds that it would increase ethnic tensions. Because of these objections, support for this measure is lukewarm among moderate Taiwan independence supporters, and the proposal did not pass.

In 2003, there was a controversy when parts of the civil service examination for judges were written in characters used only in Taiwanese Hokkien.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ko Shu-ling|title=Control Yuan sets rules for future examinations |page=2 |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/09/20/2003203606 |work=Taipei Times|date=20 September 2004}}</ref> After strong objections, these questions were not used in scoring. As with the official-language controversy, objections to the use of Taiwanese came not only from Mainlander groups but also Hoklo, Hakka, and aborigines. The [[Control Yuan]] later created a rule that only allowed Standard Mandarin characters on civil service exams. According to public opinion surveys in 2008, more people supported making English a second official language than Taiwanese.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Gijsen, Johan |author2=Liu Yu-Chang  |chapter=Chapter 8: The Quest for a New Civic and Linguistic Identity: Mandarin and English Encroachment upon the Taiwanese Language |title=Critical Perspectives on Language and Discourse in the New World Order|editor1-last=Abdullah|editor1-first=Faiz Sathi|editor2-last=Abdullah|editor2-first=Mardziah Hayati|editor3-last=Hoon|editor3-first=Tan Bee|date=2008|publisher=Cambridge Scholars|location=Newcastle|isbn=9781847183408|page=156}}</ref>
{{further information|Languages of Taiwan}}

=== Mother tongue movement ===
[[Taiwanese localization movement|Taiwanization]] developed in the 1990s into a '[[mother tongue]] revival movement' aiming to save, preserve, and develop the local ethnic culture and language of Holo (Taiwanese), Hakka, and aborigines. The effort to [[Language revitalization|save declining languages]] has since allowed them to revive and flourish. In 1993, Taiwan became the first country in the world to implement the teaching of Taiwanese Hokkien in schools. By 2001, Taiwanese languages such as Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, and indigenous languages were taught in all Taiwanese schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhu.edu.tw/~society/e-j/45/45-16.htm|author=許嘉文|date=15 March 2005|language=zh|script-title=zh:台灣鄉土教育發展史|trans-title=The education history of local Taiwanese languages}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=March 2016}}{{dubious|date=March 2016}} Since the 2000s, elementary school students are required to take a class in either Taiwanese, Hakka or aboriginal languages.{{sfnp|Lin|2002}}{{dubious|date=March 2016}} In junior high this is usually an available [[Course (education)#Elective and required courses|elective]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ey.gov.tw/AnnoucePage2.aspx|title=行政院全球資訊網|website=www.ey.gov.tw|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref> Taiwan also has its own [[Taiwan literature movement|literary circle]] whereby Hokkien poets and writers compose poetry and literature in Taiwanese on a regular basis.

As a result of the mother tongue movement, Taiwan has emerged as a significant cultural hub for Hokkien in the world in the 21st century. It also plans to be the major export center for [[Hokkien culture]] worldwide in the 21st century.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npf.org.tw/11/4118 |title=馬英九 {{!}} 馬蕭文化政策 {{!}} 國家政策研究基金會 {{!}} 公共政策的理性思辯與對話平台！|website=國家政策研究基金會|language=zh-TW|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref>

=== Television ===
{{Expand Chinese|topic=cult|section=yes|date=August 2020}}

* [[Lady Rainicorn]] for ''[[Adventure Time]]'' broadcast by [[Cartoon Network (Taiwanese TV channel)|Cartoon Network Taiwan]] used Taiwanese Hokkien for [[Li Hanfei]] ({{lang|zh-tw|李涵菲}})