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Hokkien is just an Umbrella Term, not Specific
The so-called Hokkien in this translator is actually Taiwanese Hokkien, which is actually not used in China and SEA. It is also not spoken by people outside Taiwan. Hokkien languages are actually very different among themselves
Hokkien is actually an umbrella term for many different Hokkien languages. Some major ones are as:
- Xiamen/Amoy Hokkien (China)
- Taiwanese Hokkien (Taiwan)
- Malaysian Hokkien (Penang)
- Malaysian Hokkien (Southern Malaysia, based on Quanzhou, pariticularyly Engchoon dialect)
- Singaporean Hokkien (based on Amoy)
- Quanzhou Hokkien (China)
- Zhangzhou Hokkien (China)
- Phillipines Hokkien (based on Jinjiang)
- Medan Hokkien (based on Zhangzhou)
- Riau Hokkien (based on Quanzhou, pariticularly Engchoon dialect)
Each of all of the major ones up there has own pronunciation rules, tone change rules, vocabulary, loan words, and grammar.
Each of all of the major Hokkien language has own pronunciation rules, tone change rules, vocabulary, loan words, and grammar. You cannot just use Taiwanese Hokkien to "contain" all other Hokkiens
Failure of recognizing this fact will make this project end up providing only Taiwanese Hokkien service, which is actually useless outside Taiwan. First, non-Taiwan users will not speak in Taiwanese way to record for translation. Secondly, the translated Taiwanese Hokkien is not what non-Taiwan Hokkien speakers want
Researchers have to treat all Hokkien variants independently. The differences are big. Slight difference in pronunciation will result in jokes and misunderstanding
Another thing, using Tai-Lo as so-called standardized phonetic system is also strange. Not only Tai-Lo is not used outside Taiwan, even in Taiwan many choose to use POJ.
Users should be provided with at least two options - POJ or Tai-Lo, just to be fair. There is no "standard" in Hokkien languages, and Taiwanese Hokkien is not a standard outside Taiwan. Thank you.