In search of linguistic identities in Taiwan: an empirical study

Abstract

Ethnolinguistic affiliation and national identity have been important cleavages in Taiwanese society and party politics. However, the place of language in Taiwanese identity and its influence on different aspects of political behaviour remain understudied. This paper tries to palliate this deficiency by analysing the relationship between language spoken at home and three variables: national identity, national envisioning and party support. It asks three questions: What are linguistic identities? What is the place of the Taiwanese language in ethnic and national identities in Taiwan? Does the use of Taiwanese matter for political outcomes? The analysis is based on large-N data from the ‘Taiwan Social Change Survey on National Identity, 2003’, conducted at a time when discourses on the legal status of ethnic languages were at their peak in Taiwan. Findings suggest that while local languages play an important role in ethnic identities, the Taiwanese language does not constitute a fundamental component of Taiwanese national identity. However, speaking Taiwanese at home does influence – albeit mildly – national identity and political outcomes.