Websites:
This site really is the definitive site for those looking to start their own translations. Though their system requires you to translate word-to-word, their library of words and phrases is quite vast, and spans multiple dialects. Most of the words have spoken audio to accompany each word, and if you click the box on the far right of each word, you can even get some example sentences. This site is a godsend.
There have been a few occasions thus far where it has been necessary to delve into the the Hakka language. MoeDic has proved to be an invaluable resource on this endeavor. The Hakka tone system is a little more complicated than Taiwanese, but I think you will find this to be a good starting point.
I know it’s a little trite, but Google Translate still is quite a useful tool, though I would recommend using it too often. It’s good to remember that oftentimes there are no Taiwanese equivalents for some Mandarin words. In these cases, using Google Translate can prove invaluable.
This site is essentially a straight up Taiwanese to Chinese dictionary. There will be times when iTâigí just doesn’t seem to have all the answers, for those moments, you can give this search engine a try. The content is a bit cluttered, but it’s still quite a great resource. If you go to the parent page, you can find even more stuff (as I believe the site is run by a university), however be prepared for the site’s 1990s internet throwback design.
Reading Material:
Taiwanese Grammar (by Philip T. Lin)
Coming in at a whopping 662 pages, this book by Philip T. Lin is not for the faint of heart. However, if you want to give your translations an academic treatment, this is the book for you. Lin goes into intense detail on the grammatical intricacies of Taiwanese, and if you are a patient person, you will find this book invaluable. The only downside to this book is it’s lack of audio content. If you’re new to Chinese or Taiwanese, this book will be almost illegible.
台語原來是這樣
This will most definitely be the most fun you will ever have learning another language. Though much of the books content is dedicated to teaching you how to lob insults, it’s sleek design, detailed explanations, and practical application makes this a must for any Taiwanese learner’s language library. As the book is written completely in Chinese, you will have to make sure to dust off your Mandarin in order to fully comprehend the content.
台客鬼 