2007-02-25 14:38:46 · 5 answers · asked by Lynn 4 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Taiwan
The Taiwanese dialect from what I heard, actually came from the first wave of settlers from southern Guang-dong or (Fuxian) province originally. Prior to them was the 'aborigines' a bunch of different tribes who warred over territory the same way we always do.
Imperial Japan made its prescence in Taiwan and began the systematic destruction of the Hoklo culture, which got put to a stop by the American campaign in the Pacific back after the Japs got too ambitious.
The mandarin dialect became dominant with increasing numbers of settlers from Northern China, particularily with Chiang kai Sheks army arriving in the 40's after the west doled it out to chiang, foolishly thinking his guys would be the government of china, but we all know which side won that, and Chiang took his handout and retired in tropical paradise and laid waste to it with his army of escapees, businessmen, landholders, and basically the monied classes/ faux nobility who chose to live far from the stalinist style commies of Mao. (which explains the inexplicable wealth of the island and the amount of returning businessmen who still feel they are chinese even if their children dont.)
At least his sons did somewhat better for the locals than the old geezer Chiang. All the history aside you can look at the wiki below for a clearer statement than my rambling.
you can see more at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_(linguistics)
2007-02-25 20:48:30 · answer #1 · answered by matt_of_asia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rillifane's answer is correct. However, you will not find many people speaking Taiwanese in Taiwan. From what I was told by my wife, since WW2, Taiwanese was not taught in the schools for a long time. Even though it is taught now, many young people cannot speak it.
2007-02-25 23:24:58 · answer #2 · answered by A dad & a teacher 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Taiwanese is a variant of Min Nan, the Chinese language/dialect spoken in southern Fujian province.
The Min languages/dialects are part of the Chinese language group, itself a member of the Sino-Tibetan language family.
Min Nan is mutually unintelligible with either Cantonese or Mandarin.
2007-02-25 22:46:39 · answer #3 · answered by Rillifane 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Taiwanese is Taiwan people and Mandarin is a language.
Taiwanese speck Mandarin.
2007-02-25 22:51:14 · answer #4 · answered by anderson 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
pigeon and rat
2007-02-25 22:45:53 · answer #5 · answered by jbhunter 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋