Abstract In most countries along the Pacific Rim, there is an increasing mismatch between official policy, which has become progressively more liberal and supportive of minority linguistic and other rights, and the reality of continuing loss of indigenous minority languages. This is partly because assimilationist policies, explicit or implicit, had been under way for centuries or millennia before recent changes; and because members of minority groups themselves choose for economic and social reasons to continue to assimilate, despite now having nominal linguistic rights. As countries develop and economic security is approached, many governments allow their minorities the luxury of some language and cultural rights. This does not change the underlying attitude of the majority group, and it also does not necessarily lead to a positive change in the attitudes and choices of members of minority groups.