Fun Taiwanese Linguistic fact! Paylang (Taiwanese Han) = pháinn-lâng (Bad People)!

Indigenous 'Paylang' 白浪 (Taiwanese Han) =
Taiwanese Hokkien ‘pháinn-lâng’ 歹人 (Bad People)

 Indigenous - Taiwan Hokkien Linguistics Puzzle Remarkably Solved! 
陳耀昌 Chen Yao Chang a veteran hematology professor, stem cell researcher and historical novelist - once again supplied me the answer to a question from 3 years ago, an answer I have not been able to reach from any indigenous 'specialists' I came across. 

First wonderful information Professor Chen gave me is on 
The Principal Unit of Land Measure :

The principal unit of land measure is 甲 (Taiwanese: kah, Hakka: kap, Mandarin: jiǎ). The unit is derived from the obsolete Dutch morgen, which was introduced during Taiwan's Dutch era.





The second one (and I am sure there will be plenty more 'surprises' from the extraordinary Professor Chen!) is on this term 白浪 (pinyin bailang) I first heard from a sausage vendor in Wulai Old Street. His stall is the first one after this bridge. 
'Bailang' apparently is a term used by several indigenous peoples referring to Taiwanese Han. I did ask him why, where the origin of this term because neither in pronunciation nor writing I could relate to 'Taiwanese Han' - such as myself and my family. He didn't know. I also asked around a few friends who are indigenous culture enthusiasts, especially those frequented Wulai on a regular basis. No one knew or even heard of it. Google search yields nothing credible either. 

Until this morning, Professor Chen posted on Facebook about US, Australia, New Zealand indigenous vs Taiwan's and advocacy of August 1 a National  'Taiwan Thanksgiving Day". 

2016 August 1 is the day President Tsai apologizes to indigenous peoples on behalf of government. 


'Taiwan Thanksgiving Day' proposal is inspired by Jared Diamond's 'Taiwan’s gift to the world'

Taiwan’s gift to the world

Nature 403, 709-710 (17 February 2000)
Linguistics: Taiwan's gift to the world
Jared M. Diamond
Abstract
Study of the giant Austronesian language family tells us a great deal about the history of Pacific peoples and boatbuilding, as well as about Aboriginal Australia.
We humans are defined and fascinated by our languages. Especially intriguing are the 1,200 or so languages of the Austronesian language family, possibly the largest family among the 6,000 languages of the modern world1.


Here is the original FB conversation with Professor Chen where I learned the source and meaning of 'Paylang' - 
K: Where does the indigenous term bailang 白浪 come from? 
C: Bailang is pháinn-lâng 'Bad people'
K: Is that right? ... I first heard it in Wulai, but no one I knew was able to explain the term. So that is a Hokkien linguistic influence on the indigenous ??
C: Yes! Paylang usage exists from Paiwan to Sakizaya。
K: Jeez! I have not been able to get an answer from indigenous studies researchers I came across! 

 A QUESTION REMAINS:
'Paylang' - an indigenous name. I then discovered not uncommon indigenous peoples named 'Paylang' - in particular in Amis and Paiwan. So it remains a question to me at this time if this name hints any Han/Hokkien connection?

 林詩函，Siko Paylang，阿美族

Sufin Paylang 

Perhaps most notable is 蘇錦雄Paylang．Caya . 
A former New Taipei 'Plains Indigenous' DPP party candidate. 



Updates Sep 24 2023 

Saisiyat 
閩南人為 『kamsiulang』、外省人為『babui』
kam is 幹 F-word. (Taiwanese Benshengren)
babui is pig. (Chinese Waishengren)

Atayal 
Hakka (Male) Na-Na
Source of origin - ngay means 'I' 我 in Hakka. and they often address themselves 'ngay-ngay'



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