NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Language
Language
Language
The Micronesian languages are descended from the Austronesian language group. The most important indigenous languages are: Marshallese on the Marshall Islands, Palauan on Palau, Chamorro on Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, Gilbertees on Kiribati and Nauru on Nauru. There are also many languages and dialects on the remote islands, sometimes spoken by as few as a hundred people.
The major languages developed independently of each other and are therefore completely different. English is spoken throughout Micronesia but often only serves as a means of communication between the different states. On each individual island, the use of their own language is dominant. The official language in the Northern Mariana Islands is English. Chamorro and Carolinean are the indigenous languages, and in some hotels and shops Japanese is still spoken. Due to the many tourists from Japan, there are already more shop signs in Japanese than in English.
Sources
Galbraith, K. / Micronesia
Lonely Planet
Levy, N. / Micronesia handbook
Moon
CIA - World Factbook
BBC - Country Profiles
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