西方從古羅馬時期拉丁文書寫定於一尊的時代，到使用地方語言，造成民族國家的興起，加劇現代化的進程。日治時期的臺灣，使用地方語言，有利於臺人族裔意識的凝聚，不利於殖民統治，則為政治的現實。因而臺灣文人與日本政府展開一連串的攻防措施與論述。臺灣文人盡全力要在現代化中完成自我與族裔形象的重塑，他們相信自己必須從文藝創作中尋找語言使用的方法，在這裡他們遭遇文言文／白話文、北京白話文／臺灣話文、日本話文／世界語等種種複雜糾葛的問題。什麼樣的語言使用可以協助他們邁入「現代」化的進程、而又保留「地方化」、「民族化」，抗拒日本政府的同化？或者是部分接受同化，保留「地方化」，向世界化邁進？本文分兩節討論臺灣文人對於語言使用從文言的漢文到白話的地方語、世界語的變遷，以及在這個變遷所產生的意義。

In the West, Latin was replaced by dialects that eventually led to the rise of nation states. While under Japanese rule, Taiwanese saw dialect as a powerful means of forming a national consciousness that would oppose colonial rule. Taiwanese literati and the Japanese government engaged in combative commentaries on this issue.
In order to successfully build an image of self and race, Taiwanese literati knew that they had to explore the use of language in literary creations. Here, they encountered dilemmas such as Classical Chinese/Vernacular Chinese, Beijing dialect/Taiwanese, and Japanese/Esperanto (universal language). What language was best suited for their purpose? Were they to follow the trend of “modernization” while simultaneously preserving “localization” and “nationalization”, in addition to resisting Japanese assimilation (Japanization)? Or were they to accept partial assimilation, which preserved “localization” and move toward globalization?
This article discusses: 1) Taiwanese literati’s role in the language transition from Classical to Vernacular Chinese and Esperanto and 2) the significance of this transition.