Language is a crucial aspect of culture and often serves as the primary indicator of ethnicity. However, under the governance of non-indigenous polities, such as Japanese colonial and early Kuomintang eras, Taiwanese indigenous peoples were expected to abandon their “backward” languages and cultures. Consequently, numerous indigenous languages disappeared, with many others currently in danger of being lost. To raise awareness about the global crisis of language loss, UNESCO has identified five Taiwanese indigenous languages, including Thao, as "critically endangered." With fewer than ten native speakers, Thao is on the brink of extinction. In response, the Taiwanese government started the Salvage Endangered Languages Project and the Indigenous Language Proficiency Test to preserve endangered languages (and cultures) like Thao so that Taiwan can maintain a cultural diversity that will continue to distinguish Taiwan from China. However, among the Thao people, the Thao language has long ceased to be a meaningful cultural and ethnic marker, with most younger Thao individuals not raised in a Thao-speaking environment, even if they live in the village. This paper explores the differences in defining indigeneity. While the government in Taiwan defines indigenous peoples by their descent and ability of native languages, the Thao community uses alternative ways to determine their membership. Furthermore, I analyze how the younger generation of Thao actively uses social media to revive their ethnic identity and create an intimate online community despite not having a space-based connection.
