Aboriginal languages have been under pressure since the Japanese ruled Taiwan. For years after Taiwan's return to ROC rule, those who spoke something other than Mandarin in school or in public were punished and humiliated by being forced to wear a card around their neck.
李來旺指著記滿羅馬拼音的黑板感嘆，從日據時代開始，原住民母語就受到打壓；到了國府時代，控制更嚴了，動不動就「掛狗牌」。