英文摘要
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This dissertation deals with the founding of the Taiwanese Romanization Association, also known as Tâi-oân Lô-má-ji Hiãp-hoe (TLH), in 2001 and its various activities since then, with the full support of its members and a vigorous leadership, the concrete evidence of its efforts to bring about the revitalization of the Taiwanese native languages. In the last 20-plus years, it has striven for the standardization of a modern written Taiwanese form, encompassing the advantages of using Roman characters in dealing with non-Han cultures worldwide. Language as a vehicle of intangible cultural heritage is a common sense fact that TLH is wholly aware of. The rationale behind this vehement promotion of Roman characters is the reminder of the fact that our modern language consists of many different dimensions. Aside from the dominant Taiwanese and Hakka, there are more than 15 indigenous tribes with no written history at all, not to mention the colonial influences by the Dutch, the Spanish, Imperial China, the Japanese and most recently the Chinese Nationalist. The daily use of language in Taiwan, if rendered entirely in the so-called National Language -- Guoyu, or Pakkia^noe, would not suffice all the needs of Taiwanese. Besides causing misunderstanding due to Taiwanese words not able to be precisely expressed in Guoyu, there are also the problems of inappropriate use, and distortions. Roman characters are mandatory for the cause of the Preservation, Revitalization and Development of the Taiwanese Mother Languages, which is the ultimate goal of TLH.
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