A wall at the entrance of Koupi Experimental Elementary School, the first school where learning Siraya is mandatory, displays the school’s name in Chinese and Siraya. Photo Credit: Aylin Ho for Mongabay
Society TaiwanSiraya Language Finds Its Voice Again
A language dormant for generations is returning to classrooms and families in Taiwan, helping the Siraya reconnect with their heritage and strengthen their Indigenous identity.
“Language is an extremely important part of a people’s soul,” says Uma Talavan, Siraya activist and language teacher. “It lets us know the past and connect it to the present.”
More than 20 years of revitalisation have produced a Siraya dictionary, grammar resources, songs and a new generation of speakers, with around 12 trained teachers now teaching the language at 26 schools. Some children are learning Siraya from birth, while others are learning it from their parents and grandparents. The revival also contributed to the Siraya’s recognition in July 2026 as Taiwan’s 17th Indigenous group, opening the way for greater support for the community and its language.
