Preserving the Voices of Raoping Hakka: Zhuolan Digital Opportunity Center in Miaoli County Uses Digital Technology to Safeguard Local Culture

To support the Ministry of Education's "Rural Digital Empowerment Promotion Program," the Miaoli County Government has been guiding nine local Digital Opportunity Centers (DOCs) to promote digital learning, support information access for remote communities and vulnerable groups, and provide free digital services and learning resources.

The Zhuolan Digital Opportunity Center (commonly known as Zhuolan DOC), established in 2017, is operated by Zhuolan Elementary School in Zhuolan Township. Over nine years of active operation, the center has proactively recruited participants by integrating various resources, promoted digital literacy, and focused on preserving local cultural heritage.

Zhuolan is a key settlement of the Raoping Hakka community in Miaoli County. However, due to youth migration and the gradual shift in daily language use, this precious linguistic culture is quietly disappearing. To preserve the unique sounds of Raoping Hakka, Zhuolan DOC launched a special course titled "[Digital Preservation] Voices That Never Fade – Practical Training in Raoping Hakka Audio Collection and Digital Archiving."

Most participants are local elders and members of the Hakka Raoping Cultural Association—living dictionaries of the Raoping Hakka language. However, they are generally unfamiliar with computer operations. Instructor Pei-fen Chan patiently guided these learners from scratch, teaching them digital audio recording and file preservation techniques.

The course began with an introduction to the functions and interface of free audio editing software, along with fundamental recording knowledge such as microphone distance, optimal recording environments, and speech pacing. This foundational training helped participants build confidence before actual recording.

Equipped with headphones and microphones, participants began recording Raoping Hakka vocabulary and everyday conversations. Blue sound waves pulsed across computer screens, capturing every syllable and tone. Instructor Pei-fen provided real-time guidance on trimming silent gaps, filtering background noise, and adjusting volume levels to ensure clarity and usability. Participants also learned standardized file naming conventions and folder organization methods to systematically store and manage their recordings.

Elderly participants, wearing headphones and facing microphones, fluently spoke the Raoping Hakka they had spoken since childhood. Fellow learners listened intently and offered encouragement, creating a warm and moving classroom atmosphere.

Through this course, participants not only mastered audio recording and editing software but also produced a valuable collection of Raoping Hakka audio files suitable for educational and cultural archiving purposes. This initiative has given new digital life to a vanishing linguistic heritage.

Miaoli County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin stated, "Digital technology not only bridges the urban-rural divide but also serves as a key to revitalizing local history and culture!" As a local hub for digital learning, the Digital Opportunity Center demonstrates that digital education transcends age barriers, enabling elders to continuously explore new knowledge and enjoy creative expression. It also aims to inspire younger generations to develop a sense of cultural identity, transforming the landscape of cultural education. By leveraging digital tools, the community is co-creating irreplaceable memories of their hometown.