President Honors Liang Rong-mao for Preserving and Promoting Hakka Culture

Minister of the Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) Ku Hsiu-fei, representing President Lai Ching-te, presented a presidential commendation at the funeral of Liang Jung-mao today (the 27th) to honor the retired National Taiwan University professor for his outstanding contributions to the field of Hakka language and culture. The ceremony was simple yet solemn, with attending scholars, cultural workers, and Liang's family members gathering to commemorate his lifelong dedication to the preservation and promotion of the Hakka language. The presentation of the presidential commendation not only affirms his individual achievements but also symbolizes the nation's emphasis on diverse languages and cultures.

Liang Jung-mao devoted himself to Hakka language research starting in the 1970s, subsequently earning a doctorate in linguistics and teaching in the Department of Linguistics at National Taiwan University for over thirty years. His academic achievements cover fields such as Hakka phonology, vocabulary, and grammar, with numerous papers cited in domestic and international linguistics journals, serving as a cornerstone for Hakka language research. After retirement, he continued to cultivate a new generation of Hakka language teachers through lectures and workshops, ensuring the uninterrupted continuation of academic heritage.

In terms of media promotion, Professor Liang was a pioneer in Hakka-language radio. In the 1990s, he assisted in the preparation and hosting of Taiwan's first Hakka-language radio broadcast, providing the Hakka community with its first platform broadcasting news, music, and cultural information in their mother tongue. This move not only raised the public visibility of the Hakka language but also laid the foundation for subsequent Hakka television and digital media. Many young people who once benefited from these programs later became Hakka news anchors or program producers, creating a virtuous cycle.

Beyond academia and the media, Liang Jung-mao was a core driving force behind the "Give Me Back My Mother Tongue" movement. Beginning in 2000, he actively participated in Hakka language revitalization campaigns, calling on the government to include the Hakka language as a formal teaching subject and facilitating the compilation of Hakka teaching materials and teacher training. His advocacy directly influenced the amendments to the Hakka Basic Act and the National Languages Development Act, increasing the proportion of Hakka language teaching in campuses year by year. Consequently, many Hakka students have been able to use their mother tongue in formal education, enhancing their linguistic confidence and cultural identity.

The presentation of this presidential commendation, conferred on his behalf by HAC Minister Ku Hsiu-fei, demonstrates the executive branch's determination to preserve Hakka culture. In her eulogy, Ku Hsiu-fei noted that Professor Liang's spirit embodies the concept that "language is the root of culture," calling on society as a whole to continue paying attention to the survival environment of vulnerable languages. This action also reminds policymakers that language revitalization is not merely an academic issue, but is intricately connected to the historical memory and future development of ethnic groups.

Reflecting on Liang Jung-mao's life, he was not only a scholar of the Hakka language, but an activist who put theory into practice. From the classroom to radio broadcasts, and from policy advocacy to community teaching, his footprint spans every facet of Hakka language preservation. In the future, as more young people devote themselves to Hakka language teaching and creation, the path pioneered by Professor Liang will continue to extend, keeping the Hakka language vibrant and dignified within Taiwan's culturally diverse society.