Passing on Hakka language and culture in Hualien’s Yuli Township

In recent years, people have been paying increasing attention to passing on ethnic culture, and Hakka culture is no different. According to the definition of Hakka Basic Law and a Hakka Affairs Council survey, Taiwan’s Hakka population has reached 4.53 million, showing the importance of promoting Hakka culture and language.

However, with five major Taiwanese Hakka dialects from different regions, passing on Hakka language is anything but easy. In Hualien’s Yuli, where 39% of the population is Hakka, the majority of Hakka people speak the Hailu or Sixian dialects. Two teachers in Yuli are actively involved in teaching the Hakka language in the hope of keeping Hakka language and culture alive for future generations.

以下為中文對照

客家語言文化傳承 花蓮玉里小鎮扎根

近幾年來，有越來越多人開始注重族群文化的傳承，客家文化就是其中之一；根據客家基本法的定義以及客家委員會的調查，全台灣的客家人口達到453萬人，顯現客家文化以及客家語言推廣的重要性。

目前台灣的客家話有五大腔調，各腔調又因為地區不同而有口音的差別，因此在語言的傳承方面有一定的難度；在花蓮的玉里有39%是客家人，使用海陸腔與北四縣腔的客家民眾比較多，在玉里就有兩位客語薪傳師積極投入客語傳承的教學行列，希望能夠讓客家語言和文化代代相傳。