Aspect Social et Dimension Du Pidgin-English et Camfranglais Face Aux Langues Officielles Du Cameroun

Abstract

Home to several languages, Cameroon has a complex linguistic situation that resulted in the creation of other languages (Cameroon pidgin and camfranglais) to facilitate easy communication. Cameroonian Pidgin is considered to be a flexible, fast growing and unifying language, undergoing a rapid transformation in a constantly changing society. It is a language which grows in the eyes of Cameroonians, spoken by the rich and poor, educated and uneducated, young and old, and it transcends geographical and political boundaries because it is not a language of a particular ethnic group. Cameroonian pidgin is considered the lingua franca in everyday life in many regions of Cameroon. Despite its popularity and the fact that it is seen as a unifying language, it is not recognized as an official language in the Cameroonian society because it is believed to have a bad influence on the official languages of Cameroon (French and English). Camfranglais, on the other hand, is not as flexible as Cameroon pidgin; it is a vehicular language used by the French speaking youths in urban areas of Cameroon. It is frequently spoken when the youths want to freely or secretly communicate without being understood by community members. This study examines the dimensions, influence and future of the two languages (considered neutral languages) in the Cameroon society vis-a-vis the official and local languages.