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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Language problems in anglophone Cameroon: present writers and future readers |
Author: | Kishani, Bongasu Tanla |
Year: | 1994 |
Periodical: | Quest: An International African Journal of Philosophy |
Volume: | 8 |
Issue: | 2 |
Period: | December |
Pages: | 101-129 |
Language: | English |
Notes: | biblio. refs. |
Geographic terms: | Cameroon West Africa |
Subjects: | language policy multilingualism language Language and languages |
Abstract: | English-language writings in Cameroon reveal a divided language with a vitality constantly marked by the silent encroachments of other languages, such as Pidgin English, French and numerous Cameroonian languages. The point at issue here is not how to develop a Cameroonian/African variant of English, but how to reinstate Cameroonian languages once and for all and so bring about Cameroon's linguistic independence. Cameroonians should not put up with an externally imposed colonial language without questioning its appropriateness to their own cultures and its capacity to convey accurately their realities and the philosophical concepts they embody. The era of 'one country, one language' is past. Cameroon should adopt a pluralistic language policy based on an acceptance of the ethnic linguistic patrimony and on encouraging individual mastery of a number of languages. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in French (p. 100). A reply by Godfrey Tangwa appears in: Quest, vol. 9, no. 1 (1995), p. 121-130. |