This article is a synthesis ofrecent research into the triple issues oflanguage, identity, and conflict confronting Taiwan over the last four decades and a review of recent political developments within which the particular interweaving of language and cultural issues can best be understood. In addition, the present article attempts to give a global assessment of the identity crisis, the one single issue that looms largest in Taiwanese consciousness and that ranks äs the country's real national sport. Finally, the article considers the emerging multiculturalism äs an exponent of the "internal reconciliation"policies.