Recognition for the indigenous languages of Taiwan keeps improving.
This month, after a law offering a guarantee that the country’s sixteen indigenous languages will be revitalised was passed, the very first government document in an indigenous language was published.

The members of the Ami tribe and speakers of the Ami language got the first indigenous language official document in the history of Taiwan translated into their language.
The Ami constitute the largest indigenous community in the country. Until recently, they had to go to a township office and get official statements translated into their language if they wanted to, since they were only officially given in Chinese.

The bewildered elders reportedly first thought the document was in English, before realising it was written in their own language through the means of the Latin Alphabet. Following this surprise, the Ami have started to recover some legitimacy in using their language, and even a feeling of independence.

While the Ami were the first to benefit from the new law, all Taiwanese indigenous communities will soon get access to official documents in their own languages. Indeed, the government has gathered many indigenous language teachers and tribal chiefs, to work together on an efficient way of implementing this law and let all indigenous communities benefit from it.

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