Understanding Grandmother’S Tongue The Encounter Between Basel Missionaries And The Hakka

Authors: Lee, Fabio Yu-chung and Cheng Ying
Publication Date: August 2021
Starting from the perspective of the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme, which emphasizes the universal value of preserving minority and endangered languages, this work explores the historical encounters between Western missionaries of the Basel Mission and the Hakka people in the late 19th century. It recounts how missionaries and local churches recorded, translated, and preserved early materials of the Hakka language, providing invaluable linguistic and cultural documentation.
Written in an accessible and engaging style, the work invites general readers to appreciate the richness and uniqueness of the Hakka language and to recognize the enduring importance of preserving Hakka linguistic and cultural heritage for future generations.