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Abstract
Existing studies indicate the influence of specific sociocultural factors on Indigenous heritage language (HL) proficiency in Taiwan. Within the HL empirical account, the influence of external sociocultural factors on Taiwan’s Indigenous HL proficiency is suggested to be indirect. Meanwhile, the HL input quantity has been found crucial for explaining variations in individuals’ HL proficiencies. The present study investigates whether HL input quantity mediates the relationship between specific sociocultural factors and Indigenous HL proficiency in Taiwan. 1,548 valid questionnaires were collected between June 2013 and October 2014. Findings showed that the sociocultural influences on Indigenous HL proficiency were partially mediated through the HL use in family and non-family domains. The decline in HL proficiency was mainly attributed to diminishing HL input, driven by the dramatic changes in Formosan society, including longer out-migration periods, higher intermarriage rates with Han people, and increased conversion to Han religions.
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