By Pao-Chien Wang, Professor in the Department of Hakka Language and Social Sciences, National Central University / Deputy Dean in College of Hakka Studies / Director of Language Equality and Policy Research Center
In Taiwan, traveling from Zhongzheng 3rd Road in Yingge District, New Taipei City, to Daying Road in Daxi District, Taoyuan City, you’ll come across a unique road sign at the city border. This sign for “Daxi District” reads, from top to bottom: “Taihai Ki,” “大溪區,” and “Daxi District.” While many passersby may be confused by “Taihai Ki,” Hakka speakers often feel a strong sense of familiarity, because “Taihai Ki” is the Hakka pronunciation of Daxi.
Why do road signs now include Hakka? And where can we see such signs? This traces back to a 2018 amendment of the Hakka Basic Act, which introduced the concept of “Hakka as a regional common language.”
Hakka as a Regional Common Language
Taiwan is a multicultural society, and language is a crucial vessel of culture. As a means to create an environment where Hakka can be used in daily life and to uphold linguistic rights, the 2018 amendment to the Hakka Basic Act established Hakka as a regional common language in areas with large Hakka populations—referred to as Hakka Cultural Key Development Zones.
According to Article 4 of the Hakka Basic Act and Article 2 of the Regulations on the Implementation of Hakka as a Common Language, Hakka common language zones are divided into two types:
- Regions where Hakka is one of the common languages – where the Hakka population is more than one-third but less than half;
- Regions where Hakka is the primary common language – where the Hakka population is at least half.
Based on these criteria, the Hakka Affairs Council announced 70 townships, cities, and districts as designated Hakka common language areas. Daxi District in Taoyuan City is one such region.
Language encompasses listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In past efforts to revitalize Hakka, oral transmission (listening and speaking) was emphasized. However, literacy—reading and writing—is just as crucial in language learning and preservation. To integrate Hakka writing into daily life and create a Hakka-friendly environment, Article 10 of the Implementation Regulations allows local governments, schools, and public institutions in Hakka common language zones to use Hakka writing in official documents, signage, and traditional place names.
Because Daxi is designated as a Hakka common language region, the local government installed road signs featuring Hakka Romanization, such as “Taihai Ki,” in accordance with the law.
Hakka Road Signs: Enhancing Hakka Visibility through Linguistic Landscapes
Linguistic landscape is an increasingly important topic in sociolinguistics. It reflects a nation’s language policy through public signage—road signs, street names, place names, and commercial signage—aimed at increasing visibility for minority languages and promoting language vitality and preservation.
Visual messages are processed more effectively than auditory ones. Therefore, signage in the form of written language—such as government documents, public facility labels, and place names—helps enhance language visibility (Wang, 2020). Hakka road signs serve three key purposes:
- Promote the use of Hakka and support its revitalization;
- Localize and normalize the use of Hakka in everyday life;
- Strengthen a sense of identity and pride in the Hakka language.
By incorporating Hakka Romanization into public spaces, these signs make the language visible, reinforce the identity of its speakers, and instill pride in using Hakka.
References:Wang, P.-C. (2020). A Study on the Legal Foundation of National Languages and Local Common Languages in Taiwan. Global Hakka Studies, 14, 37–68.
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