Using Hakka Eight Tones music ensembles as example, Minister Yiong said that traditional music is fueled by one’s innermost soul, but very few children have the chance to learn about this genre in the modern day. The same applies to passing down one’s mother tongue. If the Hakka language is to live on, motivation must consist of more than proficiency tests or enhancing one’s prospects of a handsome salary. As a Hakka family, members must truly, from the bottom of their hearts, desire to keep alive the language of their ancestors as an essential part of their lives.
Minister Yiong encouraged elders to teach Hakka to kids when still in their best learning age. For instance, “亻厓屋下”, meaning “my home”, is pronounced differently in every dialect. “Home” is the best place to learn one’s mother tongue, so children have a strong cultural foundation for their future. Everyone is also invited to speak Hakka in public places more often. “恁仔細”, or “anˋ ziiˋ se”, meaning “thank you”, is already a phrase commonly heard or seen across Taiwan in cafes, clinics, and even LINE group chats. The goal is that after the Hakka language is firmly ingrained in families, it can further spread beyond Hakka villages to all of Taiwan.
HAC is devoted to promotion of Hakka language and culture, so that they become part of everyday life. More than 3,000 Hakka families have been awarded since HAC began recognizing model families in 2008. The Hakka Model Family Reward Program is established with support of the Executive Yuan’s Overall Development Plan of Promoting National Languages to further commend families that transmit and promote the Hakka language. Every local government is invited to nominate families who speak Hakka in daily life for a chance to be awarded. 59 Hakka model families emerged victorious from among 160 nominees on this occasion, as to encourage everyone to speak Hakka frequently.
