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Taiwan SalonAuthor: Global Taiwan Institute
Taiwan Salon is a podcast produced by the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI), a 501(c)3 policy think tank in Washington, DC. Hosted by members of GTIs staff, Taiwan Salon examines Taiwans cultural policy and approach to soft power from perspectives both inside and outside the government. Through interviews, the series illuminates how Taiwans unique history and culture interacts with policy and pinpoints opportunities and challenges for future soft engagement between Taiwan and the United States. Intro and outro music for the series is by Imdifficult . Language: en Genres: Government Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Taiwan Salon Season 4, Episode 6: Aiong Taigi on Preserving Taiwanese and Learning the Inner Language
Episode 6
Tuesday, 18 November, 2025
Taiwanese (台語), also known as Tâi-gí, is the most widely spoken native language in Taiwan. During both the Japanese colonial period and subsequent martial law era (1949-1987), Taiwanese and other indigenous languages faced severe repression. While democratization has restored the freedom to speak Taiwanese openly, new challenges have emerged. As fewer young people speak the language, the question looms: how can this once-flourishing mother tongue survive in an era of globalization?In this episode of Taiwan Salon, GTI Communications Associate Yuchen Lee and 2025 Ya-Hui Chiu Summer Fellow Carissa Cheng interview Aiong Taigi, a Taiwan-based American YouTuber dedicated to preserving and promoting Taiwanese. Aiong shared his experience learning Taiwanese as a foreigner, and how Taiwan’s language policies have evolved from the martial law period to today’s democratic society.Useful linksAiong Taigi: https://www.youtube.com/@AiongTaigi/featuredChiok-eng-tâi 足英台三聲道磅米芳: https://www.youtube.com/@saveTaiwanese/featuredMary Knoll Taiwanese Textbooks: https://journeytothewestresearch.com/tag/maryknoll-taiwanese/Taiwanese singer Hsieh Ming-yu (謝銘祐): https://open.spotify.com/artist/38kvukZeDwVBlhLnVVCKWwWebsite that archives lyrics of Taiwanese songs (台語正字歌詞): https://hackmd.io/@Et47FKHKRS2m83n-aEjwAA/HkqwImgdU
