Letter to the editor

Dear Editor,

I would like to offer my opinion about the article -- Council plans to revitalize languages on May 23, 2007 .

Name: I Wen Chen

Address: 1F., No.16, Lane 70, Yufong St., Gushan District, Kaohsiung City 804, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Mobile: 0952738517

 

     As is known to all, the geographic location of Taiwan is exceptionally gifted.  Owing to the unique geographic location, those who live in Taiwan have an environment of multi-culture and different languages, including the aboriginal language.   The culture is like a big history book which records the people's live style, the way people think, of course, the way of communicating, and so forth.   The culture and the language are important treasure for people to understand their origins.  Therefore, we should preserve the culture and the language, and keep them from extinction.  

The relationship between the culture and the language is like chicken-egg, and the best way to preserve the culture and language is to transform into written texts just like what was mentioned by Wang Chiou-i.  The transforming job depends on lots of people, who know the language, but there are not many people who know the language, and the truth is most people do not think the native language is worthy to learn, except English.   The reason that people do not want to learn their native language is that most company require employee with English proficiency.  The purpose of launching six-year indigenous language revitalization plan is good for saving the language and the culture from extinction, if integrating with inculcating the importance of the native language.   The preservation of culture and language does not only belong to the government or historian, but for every one.  The government should infuse the importance of preserving the language and the culture to people, and have all the people strive for cultural and linguistic preservation together.