CIP Minister Icyang Parod (front, fourth left) is joined by local and foreign officials and experts at the 2023 Forum on the Revitalization of the Austronesian Languages Sept. 12 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of CIP)
 

The 2023 Forum on the Revitalization of Austronesian Languages was held Sept. 12 at National Central Library in Taipei City, spotlighting how the government is raising awareness of the language group, while deepening exchanges with Taiwan’s Indo-Pacific partners.

Organized by the Cabinet-level Council of Indigenous Peoples, the event was attended by both Taiwan officials and experts and those from Canada and New Zealand. The discussions focused on the three nations’ Indigenous language development policies.

During his opening remarks, CIP Minister Icyang Parod said Taiwan established the Indigenous Languages Development Act in 2017, in line with the spirit of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032 proposed by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization. Under the act, the government has obligations to preserve, pass on, promote and conduct research on Indigenous languages, he said.

The forum provides a platform for participants to gain a deeper understanding of loss of Indigenous languages and other countries’ revival strategies, he said, adding that attendants can exchange experience to use as a reference for policy drafting.

According to the CIP, most speakers at the event delivered addresses in their mother tongues. In addition to Mandarin and English, there was also simultaneous interpretation of Indigenous languages including Amis, Atayal, Bunun, Paiwan and Taroko to both eliminate language barriers and demonstrate Austronesian languages’ diversity, he said. (YCH-E)