Tok to Dodd - Dadaocheng to Tamsui and Tea
a-tok-á is a Taiwanese phrase for Westerner, Caucasian.
First 'a' an address word, last an ending preposition. Both carry no meaning.
Phrase origin likely developed during mid-late 19th century when substantial number of westerners appeared on bustling streets, making their presence known to locals.
Notable westerners in northern Taiwan
( July 4 1898 Dadaocheng)
Layard (British)
Ortiz (Spanish)
Chabert (Dutch)
Heintze (German)
Ohly (German)
John Dodd (Father of Formosa Oolong Tea)
Historian take on 'a-tok-á' phrase origin
"..., and the old capital Tainan (1858), and Tamsui (1862) in the north, became treaty ports. Tall, whiskered, and ruddy-faced traders, sailors and missionaries soon appeared on market streets, to be stared and pointed at with great curiosity. (Adogha! Big nose!)"
Taiwanese Feet (My Walk Around Taiwan)
John Groot
Introduction
Most phrase theory point to 'tok' as pointy/big nose （阿啄仔) . Some point to missionaries （阿督仔) and maybe a couple of point to, in my opinion, not worth mention.
Professor Heng-tao Lin 林衡道 (Descendant of The Banqiao Lin Family. Historian. Expert on historical site in Taiwan), whose 'tok' （阿獨仔）theory is relatively unknown but largely acknowledged by scholars. Historical source can be found in Tamsui literature review (淡水鎮誌) and cultural council publication (文建會文獻).
SOURCE HERE.
https://nrch.culture.tw/twpedia.aspx?id=5054
Lin suggests 'tok' 獨 refers to John 'Dodd', a British tea merchant arrived in Taiwan in 1860, became father of oolong tea, long-time resident of Tamsui and returned to England by 1893.
Contrary to being stared and pointed at, Dodd's contribution and interests in Taiwan were met with respect and appreciations and Taiwanese addressed him Mr 'tok' (獨先生).
I myself subscribe to Lin's suggestion, for one I don't think 'a-tok-a' originated from a negative context, not in the proposed time it was developed (mid-late 19th century). And two, Taiwanese unreserved and unpretentious curiosity and interests on westerners likely developed after WWII.
Another theory, possibly connected to Professor Lin, came from his grandson, my friend Charles Lin (a veteran culture and heritage guide).
"Growing up, I always knew and Grandpa always said many foreigners were called (pronounced in Taiwanese) EDWARDS". Charles in his response to my query.
"Growing up, I always knew and Grandpa always said many foreigners were called (pronounced in Taiwanese) EDWARDS". Charles in his response to my query.
Voilà! Édouard (a-tok-a)!
Addition: John Dodd former residence in Tamsui is at comfortable walking distance behind 'Shell Oil Warehouse'. If one is interested to poke around when in the neighborhood.
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