Your 'Taiwanese' (Táiyǔ) Isn't an Isolated Island, But a Mighty River Flowing to the Sea
Have you ever felt this confusion?
The Taiwanese (Táiyǔ) you hear your grandma speak at the traditional market seems a little different from the Taiwanese on prime-time TV dramas. Go to the south, and you'll find the accent of some words has changed again. Even more surprisingly, when you meet friends from Malaysia or Singapore, you might understand 70-80% of what they call 'Hokkien' (Fújiànhuà), yet there's an inexplicable sense of unfamiliarity.
We often assume 'Taiwanese' is a fixed language, but in reality, it's more like a majestic river.
The Great River Called 'Minnan'
Imagine: the source of this great river lies hundreds of years ago in southern Fujian, China—Quanzhou and Zhangzhou. Once bustling trade ports, countless people departed from there, like streams, carrying the language of their hometowns in every direction.
One of the largest tributaries flowed to Taiwan.
On this land of Taiwan, this tributary gathered local customs and characteristics, forming what we now call 'Taiwanese' (Tâi-oân-oē or Táiyǔ). Northern accents lean more towards a 'Quanzhou' (泉州) sound; southern accents carry more 'Zhangzhou' (漳州) flavor. Later, under the currents of history, it also absorbed Japanese vocabulary (such as o-tó-bái for 'motorcycle' and bì-luh for 'beer'), becoming even more unique.
This is why, even if both you and your elders speak Taiwanese, there might be subtle differences in your vocabulary and accents. You are simply situated in the same river, just in slightly different sections.
The River: Never Ceasing Its Global Journey
But this great river did not stop its journey in Taiwan. It continued to surge forward, flowing into the broader Southeast Asia.
- The Singaporean Tributary: In Singapore, it's known as 'Hokkien' (Fújiànhuà). This tributary has blended with English and Malay vocabulary, forming an accent with a distinct urban feel. Thus, most Taiwanese can understand the Hokkien spoken by Singaporeans, much like encountering family from another tributary downstream.
- The Malaysian Tributary: In Malaysia, the situation is even more intriguing. Penang's Hokkien leans more towards the 'Zhangzhou' (漳州) accent and has absorbed a large amount of Malay vocabulary; while Hokkien in the southern parts is closer to the 'Quanzhou' (泉州) accent. They are like two divergent streams fanning out at the river mouth, each with its own charm.
- More Distant Relatives: There are also some tributaries that branched off even earlier, such as 'Teochew' (Cháozhōuhuà) in Guangdong. It shares the same origin as Minnan, like a distant relative that diverged from the river very early on. Although closely related by blood, long periods of independent development mean they are now largely unintelligible to each other.
So, the next time you hear a language that 'sounds like Taiwanese but isn't quite the same,' don't be confused. What you're hearing are actually different songs sung by the same 'Great Minnan River' in various corners of the world.
From 'Speaking It' to 'Truly Understanding'
Understanding the story of this river, perhaps we can view language from a different perspective.
Learning Taiwanese isn't just about communicating with elders at home or understanding local TV shows. More importantly, it's about gaining a map to explore all the places this river flows through, to experience the diverse forms it blossoms into within different cultural soils.
It helps you understand that language is not a rigid, standard answer, but a living, constantly evolving entity. When you're on a country road in Taiwan and open up a conversation with a shopkeeper using a friendly 'Tó͘-ke, chia̍h-pá bōe?' ('Boss, have you eaten?'), you'll feel a warmth that transcends mere transaction. This same warmth exists at hawker stalls in Penang or among neighbors in Singapore.
However, when we follow the river and try to communicate with these 'distant relatives,' that 70-80% similarity and 20-30% difference can sometimes become a barrier to communication. How do we bridge this last mile?
Fortunately, technology has built a bridge for us. Some tools are specifically designed to eliminate this awkward feeling of 'almost understanding.' For instance, the Intent chat app, with its built-in AI real-time translation feature, acts like a personal interpreter, keenly picking up on the subtle differences between these languages. Whether you're speaking Taiwanese (Táiyǔ), the other person is speaking Penang Hokkien, or even a completely different language, it can help you communicate smoothly and truly 'understand' each other.
The beauty of language lies in connection. It carries our history, defines our identity, and gives us the possibility of conversing with the world.
Next time, don't just say, 'I can speak Taiwanese.' You can say with more confidence:
"What I speak is the warmest and most touching tributary of the majestic Minnan River, the one that flows through Taiwan."
And now, you have the tools to explore the entire landscape of this river.