Language Transmission of Hakka Ethnic Enclaves and Neighbouring Groups: The Example of Marine Hakka in Danan’ao, Yilan
Pao-Chien Wang
Abstract
The Hakka Affairs Council has designated 70 townships (cities/districts) as “major Hakka cultural areas” and “regional language areas”. In some villages of the “non-major Hakka cultural areas”, the Hakka people are highly concentrated geographically and surrounded by Minnan or aboriginal people. These villages are called the “Hakka ethnic enclaves”. The Hakka ethnic enclaves could be divided into two types -- “single village” and “complex village”. Danan’ao is classified as “complex village of Hakka ethnic enclave”. This essay employs the research method of literature review, as well as Berry’s model of acculturation, to explore the shape and development of the marina Hakka ethnic enclave in Danan’ao, Yilan. The essay finds that (1) Hakka migrants have transformed Danan’ao into a Hakka ethnic enclave. As the ethnic industry changed, the Hakka people developed the living model of “half fishing and half agriculture” (living depending on the sea). Danan’ao becomes marina Hakka ethnic enclave. (2) Influenced by larger society of the host ethnic Minnan, the Hakka language maintenance faces a serious crisis of intergenerational language transmission in Danan’ao. Without the intervention of government policy, the Hakka language may be irrevocably lost. Based on the above findings, the essay suggests that the government should approve the “draft Hakka Language Development Act” and designate the type 3 Hakka regional language areas (villages), which could promote the growing of the Hakka ethnic enclaves.
Keywords: major Hakka cultural areas, Hakka ethnic enclaves, marine Hakka culture, Hakka language