China–Taiwan

Languages

Amis ami

Hualien and Taitung counties: valley plains and east coast. Users: 108,000 (2015 CIP). Ethnic population: 214,000 (2020 CIP). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Ami, Amia, Bakurut, Lam-Si-Hoan, Maran, Pagcah, Pangcah, Pangtsah, Sabari, Tanah Autonym: Amis Classification: Austronesian, East Formosan, Central

Atayal tay

Hualien and Taitung counties. Users: 10,000 (2008 UNESCO). Ethnic population: 92,100 (2020 CIP). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Ataiyal, Attayal, Bonotsek, Shabogala, Taijyal, Taiyal, Takonan, Tangao, Tyal, Yukan Autonym: Tayal Classification: Austronesian, Atayalic

Babuza bzg

Changhua county: west central coast and inland, Tatu and Choshui rivers and beyond. Users: No known L1 speakers. Survived into the 2000s. Ethnic population: 35. Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Babusa, Favorlang, Favorlang-Babuza, Favorlangsch, Jaborlang, Poavosa, Sprache von Formosa Classification: Austronesian, Western Plains, Central Western Plains

Basay byq

New Taipei Municipality. Users: No known L1 speakers (Liu 2007). The last fluent speaker probably died by the 1910s. Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Basai, Basay-Trobiawan, Kawanuwan, Ketangalan, Sprache von Formosa Classification: Austronesian, East Formosan, Northern

Bunun bnn

Hualien county, Zhuoxi and Wanrong townships; Nantou county, Renai and Xinyi townships; and Taitung county, Yanping and Haiduan townships. Users: 38,000 (CIP-EY 2002). Ethnic population: 59,500 (2020 CIP). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Bubukun, Bunan, Bunti, Bunum, Vonun, Vunum, Vunun, Vunung Autonym: Bunun Classification: Austronesian, Bunun

Chinese, Hakka hak

Hsinchu, Kaohsiung, Miaoli, Pingtung, and Taoyuan counties; New Taipei Municipality. Users: 4,240,000 in China–Taiwan (2017 J. Leclerc). Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese

Chinese, Mandarin cmn

Major cities. Users: 19,580,000 in China–Taiwan, all users. L1 users: 4,580,000 in China–Taiwan (2017 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 15,000,000. Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Alternate Names: Mandarin Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese

Chinese, Min Nan nan

Widespread: east coast cities, western plain. Users: 13,500,000 in China–Taiwan (2017 J. Leclerc). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of provincial identity. Alternate Names: Bân-lâm-gú, Min Nan, Minnan, Taiwanese Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese

English eng

Users: 15,300 in China–Taiwan (2018 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English

Indonesian ind

Users: 239,000 in China–Taiwan (2018 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay

Japanese jpn

Users: 14,100 in China–Taiwan (2018 census). , based on nationality. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Classification: Japonic

Kanakanabu xnb

Kaohsiung county: Sanmin township, Minchuan village area. Users: 4 (2012 P. Jen-Kuei). A few other semi-speakers who have passive knowledge of the language (2012 P. Jen-Kuei). Ethnic population: 360 (2020 CIP). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Kanabu, Kanakana Fu, Kanakanavu Classification: Austronesian, Tsouic

Kavalan ckv

Yilan county: above Toucheng to Ilan and inland; migrants on east coast in Hualien county: Fengpin township, Hsishe village. Users: 70 (2015 CIP). Ethnic population: 1,490 (2020 CIP). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Cabaran, Kabalan, Kabaran, Kamalan, Kavanan, Kavarauan, Kibalan, Kiwaraw, Kiwarawa, Kuvalan, Kuvarawan, Kuwarawan, Kvalan, Shekwan Autonym: Kbalan Classification: Austronesian, East Formosan, Northern

Ketangalan kae

New Taipei Municipality: Panchiao area. Users: No known L1 speakers. Probably extinct by mid 20th century. Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Basay, Ketagalan, Ketangalano, Sprache von Formosa, Tangalan Classification: Austronesian, Unclassified

Korean kor

Users: 4,200 in China–Taiwan (2018 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic

Kulon-Pazeh uun

Miaoli county. Users: 2 (Jen-kuei Li 2013). Pazeh dialect is extinct. Only known speakers use Kaxabu dialect (Jen-kuei Li 2013). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Bazehai, Kulon, Kulon-Pazih, Kulun, Pazeh, Pazeh-Kahabu, Pazehe, Pazzehe, Sprache von Formosa Autonym: Pazih Classification: Austronesian, Northwest Formosan

Malay zlm

Users: 15,800 in China–Taiwan (2018 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay

Paiwan pwn

Pingtung and Taitung counties: mountains southeast. Users: 15,000 (2008 UNESCO). Ethnic population: 103,000 (2020 CIP). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Butanglu, Kadas, Kale-Whan, Kapiangan, Katausan, Li-Li-Sha, Paiuan, Payowan, Samobi, Samohai, Saprek, Stimul, Tamari, Vinuculjan Autonym: Pinayuanan Classification: Austronesian, Paiwan

Papora-Hoanya ppu

Taichung Municipality. Users: No known L1 speakers. The last speaker survived into the 1980s (Tsuchida 1982). Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Bupuran, Hinapavosa, Hoanya, Papola, Papora, Sprache von Formosa, Vupuran Classification: Austronesian, Western Plains, Central Western Plains

Puyuma pyu

Taitung county: southeast coast and inland. Users: 1,000 (Teng 2008). Ethnic population: 14,500 (2020 CIP). About 6,800 still reside in the Taitung area (Teng 2008). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Beinan, Kadas, Panapanayan, Pelam, Pilam, Piyuma, Pyuma, Tipun Autonym: Pinuyumayan Classification: Austronesian, Puyuma

Rukai dru

Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Taitung counties: west of Taitung city, 13 or 14 villages in south central mountains. Users: 2,000 (2008 UNESCO). Some monolingual older adults. Ethnic population: 13,500 (2020 CIP). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Banga, Bantalang, Bantaurang, Drekay, Drukai, Drukay, Dukai, Dyokay, Kadas, Rutkai, Sarisen, Taloma, Tsalisen, Tsarisen Classification: Austronesian, Rukai

Saaroa sxr

Kaohsiung county: enclave south and southeast of Minchuan, along Laonung river in west central mountains. Users: 25 (2015 CIP). Ethnic population: 410 (2020 CIP). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Hla’alua, La Aluwa, La’alua, La’arua, Lha’alua, Pachien, Paichien, Rarua, Saarua, Saroa, Shishaban, Sisyaban Classification: Austronesian, Tsouic

Saisiyat xsy

Miaoli county: Nanchuang and Shihtan townships; Hsinchu county: Wufeng township. Western mountains. Users: 2,000 (2015 CIP). Tungho: more active use. Taai: a few speakers; nearly assimilated into Atayal [tay]. Ethnic population: 6,730 (2020 CIP). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Amutoura, Bouiok, Saiset, Saisett, Saisiat, Saisiett, Saisirat, Saisyet, Saisyett, Saixia, Seisirat Autonym: SaySiyat Classification: Austronesian, Northwest Formosan

Sakizaya szy

Hualien county. Users: 590 (2020 L. Hung). Ethnic population: 990 (2020 CIP). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Kizaya, Qilai, Sakezhaye, Sakidaya, Sakiray, Sakiraya, Sukizaya Autonym: Sakizaya Classification: Austronesian, East Formosan, Central

Seediq trv

Hualien county: inland from coast; Nantou county; Yunlin county: small area in Nan’ao township. Central mountains. Users: 650 (2015 CIP). Ethnic population: 42,800 (2020 CIP). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Bu-Hwan, Che-Hwan, Daiya-Ataiyal, Hogo, Iboho, Saediq, Sazek, Sedek, Sedeq, Sediakk, Sedik, Sediq, Seedakka, Seedek, Seedeq, Seedik, Sejiq, Shedekka, Taroko, Taruku, Toda, Toroko Autonym: Seediq Classification: Austronesian, Atayalic

Siraya fos

Tainan Municipality: Hengchun to Peimen to Tapu. Users: No known L1 speakers. No fluent native speakers since 1908. Some older semi-speakers (2008 C. Huang). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Baksa, Formosan, Sideia, Sideis, Sideisch, Sinccan, Sinckan, Siraia, Siraiya, Sirayaic, “Pepo-Hwan” (pej.), “Pepohoan” (pej.) Autonym: Siraya Classification: Austronesian, East Formosan, Southwest

Tagalog tgl

Users: 149,000 in China–Taiwan (2018 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog

Taivoan tvx

Kaohsiung city; Hualien county. Users: No known L1 speakers. The last known speaker died near the end of the 1800s. Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Taivuan, Tevorang, Tevorangh Autonym: Taivoan Classification: Austronesian, East Formosan, Southwest

Taiwan Sign Language tss

Scattered. Users: 24,000 (2021), decreasing. Estimated 24,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.1% of total population. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Taiwan Shouyu, Taiwan Ziran Shouyu Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language

Thai tha

Users: 64,800 in China–Taiwan (2018 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Kra-Dai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern

Thao ssf

Nantou county: Sun Moon Lake southeast shore, Te-hua village, and Ta-p’ing-lin, 14 km away. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last speaker died in 2017. Ethnic population: 820 (2020 CIP). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Caw a lalawa, Chui-Huan, Chuihwan, Sao, Sau, Shao, Suihwan, Vulung Autonym: Thaw a lalawa Classification: Austronesian, Western Plains, Thao

Tibetan bod

Users: 2,000 in China–Taiwan (2017 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Bodish, Central Bodish, Central

Tsou tsu

Chiayi county: Alishan (Mt. Ali) area; Kaohsiung county: northwest and central; Nantou county: south central. Users: 4,000 (Zeitoun 2005). Ethnic population: 6,700 (2020 CIP). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Cou, Namakaban, Niitaka, Tibola, Tibolah, Tibolak, Tibolal, Tso, Tsoo, Tsu-U, Tsu-Wo, Tsuou, Tzo Classification: Austronesian, Tsouic

Vietnamese vie

Users: 194,000 in China–Taiwan (2018 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong, Vietnamese

Yami tao

Taitung county: Botel Tobago (Lanyu) island, Orchid island, southeast coast. Users: 3,800 (Rau and Dong 2006). Ethnic population: 4,680 (2020 CIP). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Botel Tabago, Botel Tobago, Dawu, Lanyu, Tao, Tawu Autonym: Pongso no Tao Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Bashiic, Yami