Yilan Creole, the world’s only surviving Japanese-based creole, is spoken by fewer than 1,000 people in Taiwan’s Yilan County. Once a vibrant language, it now faces the threat of extinction — experts say due to a lack of recognition and revitalization efforts in Taiwan.
We spoke with residents of two remaining Yilan Creole-speaking villages to learn about their unique language, its colonial history and cultural significance.
Featuring: Chien Yuehchen (簡月真), professor at National Dong Hwa University in Hualien, and residents of the Aohua and Tungyueh communities