ABSTRACT
This article provides the first investigation of contact-induced language shift in a multilingual Palauan community in the Western Pacific . Owing to its history of occupations (Spain 1891 -9; Germany 1899-1914; Japan 1914-45; the US 1945-94), its lately achieved political independence (as the Republic of Palau in 1994) and its economic reliance on prolonged financial support from the US and Japan, a rather unique and interesting language contact situation has arisen.
