VOCAL HERITAGE: You Si-kun warned that Hoklo would disappear if nothing is done to save it, while William Lai encouraged people to learn other languagesBy Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff writer, with CNA
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Vice President William Lai (賴清德) and Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃) yesterday encouraged Taiwanese to celebrate their languages and culture on International Mother Language Day.
The day is observed annually on Feb. 21, as designated by UNESCO.
“Taiwan’s various languages and cultures make Taiwan unique,” Tsai said in an interview on ICRT’s We Love Hakka program, the United Daily reported.
Tsai encouraged Taiwanese to communicate in their mother tongues and identify with their roots.
Promoting mother languages is not only a global trend, but a great way to understand Taiwan’s various cultures, which can unite Taiwanese and make them feel