When Mayor Chen uses bits of Hakka or aboriginal languages, some people see this as giving these disadvantaged groups a morale boost, as promoting the use of their mother tongues. On the other hand, however hard Governor Soong studies Taiwanese, there are provincial assembly members who say to him: "Don't assume that just because you can give a speech in Taiwanese that you really know what is best for Taiwan!"
陳水扁說客家、原住民語，有人認為是給予弱勢族群士氣，對母語推廣有莫大意義；宋楚瑜勤練台語，卻也有議員質詢他：「不要以為講台語，能用台語演講就是愛台灣！」