Convergence of Hakka with Chinese in Taiwan

Abstract The Hakka language and identity enjoys full public recognition as one of the cultural groups in Taiwan. Nonetheless, its usage appears to be in decline. In a series of interviews, the situation of the Hakka language was evaluated. Taiwanese Hakka has developed its own peculiarities and converges with Guoyu; code-switching with Guoyu is common. The intergenerational transmission seems to be difficult. General education promoting global/standard languages, inter-linguistic marriages, urbanisation, mass media, and the increased need for wider communication seem to be responsible for a general decline of smaller languages, even while receiving extensive preservation measures.