________ Founding Convention

Preserving Earth's Linguistic Cultures

Dear friends of Taiwanese languages and cultures,

Tan Si-chhat of the Ministry of the Interior,

Distinguished guests,

And founding members of our Association,

Tai-ke Chhut-thau-thiⁿ!

What is the meaning behind our holding the founding convention here, on this day? What are we setting out to do? Where are our goals?

I think those are the questions seeking answers in the mind of everyone present, including Mr. Tan Si-chhat.

I'd like to put forth a simple, clear concept to illustrate the proposition of our Association: please preserve Earth's linguistic cultures, because they are the collective assets of humanity!

In the past, our linguistic cultures had always been [held hostage by the] organs of the rulers, such as schools, newspapers, television, radio and other mass media. From the very top they administered nicely packaged culture and values. When they told us to accept them, we had to accept them without objection! In that era of buying, swindling, and stuffing the votes, we dared not express any opinions. If you had an opinion different from those of the rulers, you'd most likely be in trouble! Should you be courageous enough to hold opinions, things would still not work out! At best you shut yourself inside the house, where you "bark at the train like a dog" or else "be like a mosquito stinging a bull's horn"! The rulers would not be affected a bit! Although we docilely paid our taxes, our offspring still learned nothing of our own languages and cultural values! Our languages remained second-class, sub-par, and useless!

During the 1920s, when Japan ruled our Taiwan, our predecessors established the Taiwanese Cultural Association. At that time Chhoa Poe-hoe was already advocating the Westerners' Latin writing to achieve literacy, read books, and improve that most severe symptom of the Taiwanese: cultural malnutrition! Alas, without the recognition and support of many folks, and the luxury of time given to the Taiwanese by history, the movement did not last long before its last breath!

By the 1950s, the United Nation had begun paying attention to the languages of humanity. UNESCO proposed that mother tongues are the ideal languages for education. But Taiwan was then kept outside of the UN. As Lim Chong-gi put it, "Formosa, an isolated island with forgotten people." Thus we did not reap the benefit of such progressive and visionary proposition. Our mother tongues continued to suffer at the rulers'' hands, to be belittled and made laughing stock. Only around election time would we hear a few words and then only to swindle away our votes! As of now the UN is pushing Agenda 21, an important issue for twenty-first century Earth. Preserving the cultures of minorities has become one of the most urgent matters. Toward that end, language is the most important, effective, and useful tool. However, our new Government and President seem not to have heeded or heard! What a waste of our votes for him!

What should we do when confronted with the seeming hopelessness on this land and in this era? What can we do? That is the reason for founding our Association, the meaning of our very existence: we want to tell people of the world that Taiwan has a group of "meddling" and fearless people here to help the people of the world preserve linguistic cultures on Earth! We are here to proclaim: Chiah-pa siunn-eng chiah e u bun-beng (meddling borne of leisure begets civilization)!

In 1996, a non-governmental organization known as Terralingua, TL for short, was established in the United States. Its goal has been to protect the languages and species of Earth. According to their research, regions of greatest linguistic diversity or density have the most species! That is to say, the greatest Biodiversity and Cultural diversity. They theorize thus: language/culture influences one's view towards animals and plants, as well as attitude toward usage. Knowing a single language very likely results in knowing a few animal and plant species; the rest are not known or understood and therefore carelessly managed. The result is that many "unknown" species are foolishly dealt with--or even destroyed entirely! One good example is ang-tau-sam. The medicine we now use to treat breast cancer is extracted from it. But in the sixties, people saw it as "rotten wood" because it was wood unfit for crafting furniture or interior decoration. That is, without economic benefit. From the perspective of the people then, it was as good as trash. Little did they know, it is now precious. And a lifesaver for women! And men as well, because they may also develop breast cancer!

Co-evolution is a relatively new concept. It says that humans and the natural environment, including the flora and fauna, evolve together. If so, what has been the mode of human involvement? What has been the role of human participation? That still remains unclear. We, all of us who live on Earth, share the responsibility to preserve all the languages and species on Earth, so that our offspring millenia from now may yet benefit!

The above is the task and goal we ________ have set for ourselves. Let us all work together, encourage each other, oversee each other, as well as admire each other!

Thank you! Wish everyone: Chiah-pa siunn eng5!

[END]