This survey includes a
total of 244 students from Tamkang University and Tamsui College in
Taiwan. The students were told to evaluate seven prepared Taibun (Written
Taiwanese) reading samples (written in different orthographies) on six
characteristic scales. The statistical results reveal that Han
character-only orthography received highest rating, Han-Roman mixed
received the second highest, and Roman-only script received the lowest.
Overall, the students showed positive attitudes toward Taibun. In addition
to the orthography factor, students' background also affected their
evaluations. The significant factors are: (1) place of residence (Taipei
vs. non-Taipei), (2) major (Taiwanese and English vs. Mechanical
Engineering vs. Chinese, Japanese, and Public Administration), (3) mother
tongue (Taiwanese vs. non-Taiwanese), (4) language ability (Taiwanese vs.
non-Taiwanese), (5) national identity (Taiwanese vs. non-Taiwanese), and
(6) assertions on national status (independence vs. non-independence). In
short, whether or not Taibun will be successfully promoted to a national
status, highly depends on people's orthography demands and their attitudes
toward written Taiwanese. Moreover, their language ability and national
identity also will play an important role while they are making the
determinations.
Keywords: Taibun, Romanization, Peh-oe-ji, Han-Lo, orthography, writing