Family networks and maintaining the Indigenous language in Paiwan communities

Presented by Chun-Mei Chen at the Language Documentation and Archiving Conference, Berlin & Online, 4-6 Sept, 2024.

This paper examines how strong family networks contribute to the maintenance of the Indigenous language in the Paiwan families, the aboriginal people of Taiwan. The Paiwan language is one of the 16 government-recognized Austronesian languages spoken in southern Taiwan. The Indigenous communities use Mandarin, Paiwan, Taiwanese (Minnan), and Hakka. Elementary schools in the communities teach the Paiwan language, while schools introduce the Indigenous culture in Mandarin. The local epistemic ecology shows the dominance of Mandarin. Family networks (Velázquez 2008, 2013), language use in family activities, and Paiwan language proficiency were assessed based on language documentation and collaboration with 12 Paiwan family members to understand the retention of the Indigenous language in the communities. Specifically, Paiwan epistemological conversations in Indigenous families require further attention because of the social implications of family language maintenance in the communities. Through micro-analysis of the linguistic practices of Paiwan family members in the communities, this study examines how Paiwan people locate and realize the knowledge status of family networks and family members. The intertwining of the Paiwan family networks and language policies is studied from the perspective of interactive talks. In addition, local schools have established sequential structures in the communities of the nature of language practices. The findings suggest that strong family networks and Paiwan- Mandarin translanguaging interpreting activities ensure children’s well-being and Indigenous identity, and that Indigenous languages are passed on from generation to generation. On the other hand, networks and spaces of family activities are crucial in interpreting the language practices and socialization of Paiwan family members. The findings also reveal the family networks of language socialization of multilingual Indigenous children, as well as the situational nature of different values and resources in the Indigenous communities.