Chiang Wei-wen, director of National Cheng Kung University’s Center for Taiwanese Language Testing, says that in order to keep Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese) from disappearing, he encourages everyone to take the General Taiwanese Proficiency Test. Chiang says this would give peopole a better understanding of how proficient they are in their native tongue, and also to ensure that people speak the language correctly.
This year will be the third year the NCKU Center for Taiwanese Language Testing is administering the test, which is typically offered once in the winter and once in the summer. The test date this summer is July 21. Registration began on May 1 and lasts until May 31. The entire registration process can be completed online. Go to the center’s Web site (http://ctlt.twl.ncku.edu.tw/) for more information.
Two new things have been added to the examination — a version of the test specifically for elementary and middle school students and a Church Romanization version of the test for adults, which will go into effect this summer. Test-takers will be able to choose between the Ministry of Education’s Taiwanese Romanization System (TRS) version or the Church Romanization version.
Photo: Meng Ching-tsu, Liberty Times
照片:自由時報記者孟慶慈
Chiang says the test for middle and elementary school students, which lasts 40 minutes, only tests listening and reading. The test date is the same for both children and adults, but middle school and elementary school students have a separate registration process. If enough students sign up for the test at a single school, the center will send representatives to administer the test at that school.
The division of labor in society today is quite obvious, and much emphasis is placed on professional certification, Chiang says. Schools refer to certificates when recommendations are made or in selecting students for admission. An extra language certificate means more employment and educational opportunities.
The Church Romanization version of the test was added for church ministers and churchgoers because the majority of them still use this older system, Chiang says.
Photo: Meng Ching-tsu, Liberty Times
照片:自由時報記者孟慶慈
He also says that a language needs to be used regularly in order for it to be passed down from generation to generation. Many people assume that a lot of people speak Hoklo, but pronunciation and semantics are not necessarily correct, which has some people worried. In order to preserve Hoklo as an indigenous language, the public should work together to rescue it.
(Liberty Times, Translated by Kyle Jeffcoat)
不讓台語母語消失,成大台語文測驗中心主任蔣為文鼓勵大家參加「全民台語認證」,了解個人母語程度,也說得一口正確台語。
成大台語文測驗中心「全民台語認證」今年邁入第三年,每年寒、暑假各舉辦一次認證考,今年暑期考試日期訂在七月廿一日;報名時間五月一日至卅日,一律網路報名,詳請可至成大台語文測驗中心網站(http://ctlt.twl.ncku.edu.tw/)查詢。
今年暑期起,認證測驗新增兩項措施,開辦國中小學生台語認證、成人的測驗新增白話字版(教會羅馬字),考生可選教育部的台羅版或教會羅馬字。
蔣為文表示,國中小學生台語認證,只考聽力以及閱讀測驗,測驗的時間為四十分鐘,考試日期與成人同一天;中小學生除個別報考外,如果同一校報考者達一定人數,台語文測驗中心也可以到學校辦測驗。
他指出,當今社會分工細、尊重專業證照,學校的推甄也會參考,多一張語言證照,就多一份就業及升學加分機會。
至於認證測驗新增白話字版,他表示,現今教會訓練牧師說台語,多數仍用白話字版,考量到教會人員或教友可能也想參加台語認證,才新增白話字版。
他說,語言要活用才能流傳,很多人認為會說台語的很多,但發音、語意使用不一定正確,長期下來令人擔心,為了不讓台語母語消失,全民應該一起來搶救。(自由時報記者孟慶慈)
A: I want to go to Neihu to see the cherry blossoms. B: Do you want to go by YouBike? A: Well, how much does it cost? B: The Taipei City Government just announced that riders can use the bicycles for free for the first 30 minutes! A: Great! Riding bikes is also more eco-friendly than driving. A: 我想去內湖賞櫻花耶。 B: 那要不要騎YouBike微笑單車去? A: 車費怎麼算? B: 台北市政府最近宣布︰前30分鐘免費! A: 太棒了,而且也比開車更環保。 (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
One of us is a murderer. The terrifying thought fills your head. There’s a corpse in the next room, and one of your fellow diners put it there. As the evening progresses, you learn disturbing secrets about everyone, and you’re forced to confess to a few yourself. You all have motives for the crime, but who committed it? Fortunately, it’s just a game. Murder mystery games are multiplayer role-playing games designed to be played over the course of an evening. The concept likely originated with “wink murder,” an amusing pastime that became popular in the early 1900s. In this game, a “murderer” kills
A: How does Taipei’s YouBike service charge after the free ride for the first 30 minutes? B: It’s NT$10 every 30 minutes within four hours. A: What a bargain. No wonder Taipei is listed by Britain’s “Time Out” magazine as one of the best 50 cities in the world. B: But I spotted a few English mistakes on YouBike’s Web site. A: I guess that aspect of it still has room for improvement. A: 台北市YouBike前30分鐘免費,之後怎麼算? B: 4小時內每30分鐘10元。 A: 真劃算,難怪台北市會入選英國《Time Out》雜誌全球最佳的50座城市。 B: 不過我在YouBike的網站上看到了好幾個英文錯誤。 A: 看來這個部分還有改善的空間。(By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/ 台北時報張聖恩)
Mullet roe is a highly-priced delicacy typically served during special occasions like wedding banquets or Chinese New Year’s dinners, where families come together in celebration. The mullet roe can be prepared in various ways. It is usually pan-fried but can also be roasted or torched. To cook a pan-fried mullet roe, soak it in liquor or wine and peel off its membrane. Then, it is browned over a low fire and turned several times. Finally, the fried mullet roe is cut diagonally and is ready to be served. This dish is usually served with garlic scapes and daikon slices, but