Introduction / History

The Saaroa reside in the west central mountains, south and southeast of Minchuan, along the Laonung River. The Saaroa language was on the verge of extinction in 1990. There are currently just 5 to 6 speakers in an ethnic population of 300. The Saaroa are sinicized. Speakers have shifted to Taiwanese, Mandarin, and Bunun. No children speak Saaroa. Older people speak Taiwanese. There was a major shift to Bunun when Bunun speakers migrated into the area. There has been a subsequent shift to Mandarin.