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Article 1
TOPIC: ANALYSIS OF PERSPECTIVES IN LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY IN A MULTILINGUAL SITUATION: A CASE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN CAMEROON.
This article is a scientific work which aims at examining the challenges that exist in sustaining the English language in Cameroon with regards to its relationship with the linguistic environment which is multilingual in nature on one hand; then to show the great need and importance of promoting English language in Cameroon on the other hand. The work proposes some remedial strategies and practical solutions to overcome the difficulty in sustaining English language which has been neglected in some domains. Cameroon being a multilingual state, has turned a blind eye to some languages including one official language (English language) whose effectiveness is very limited. They have prioritise other languages like French language which is dominant in almost all spheres and its use is very glaring. It has been researched and found that the use of English language on official occasions amongst others, can serve as a means of enhancing English language in the multilingual environment like Cameroon.
KEYWORDS: Perspectives, Language development, Sustainability, Multilingualism.
CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION
The English we speak today is not the fruit of a deliberate human design. It is the sum total of a long series of historical events. The English language known as the global language has had a long history via other languages of the globe before being presented in the world. This language is that of the great nations of the world notably Britain and the United States of America. It resulted in three historical events that had an impact in the world. These historical events include: the rise of the British Empire, the Industrial Revolution and the Economic and Technological advancement. Thus, Industrial Revolution made colonial expansion more unavoidable since they needed markets to sell their products and also raw materials needed in companies and industries. The British Empire reached its peak covering about three quarter of the world’s population in the 19th century (Crystal, 2003).
The arrival of the British in Cameroon marks the presence of English in Cameroon. As they gained grounds in Cameroon, they taught the indigenes their language and culture in order to facilitate communication and administration. Since the Industrial Revolution started in Britain, it made it in such a way that other nations wanted to benefit the proceeds of the Industrial Revolution. So, English language came into Cameroon as a result of linguistic imperialism and colonization.
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Cameroon, being a multilingual country, harbours about 247 indigenous languages, one lingua franca (Cameroon Pidgin English) and two official languages (French and English). Considering the linguistic situation, a language must be functionally empowered in order for it not to loose its place in the linguistic sphere of the country. Trends in linguistics cannot be excluded when talking about the sustainability of a language because it widens our understanding of a language. English in Cameroon is the main language we shall be attempting to come out with the various means through which it can be sustained in a society where there exist many different languages. Following the event that took place in Cameroon in 1916, the English speaking community was just 1/5 which accounted for just about 20% of the total population and the French community was 4/5 which is about 80% of the total population. From this statistics, we can see that English language, though an official language in Cameroon is the language mostly spoken by the minority group in Cameroon. And in this case, if it is not empowered, it might gradually become unrecognised or less used following the multilingual context of the country. Thus, in this study, English Language ecology and sustainability in Cameroon shall be analysed following its trends and perspectives.
According to Creese and Martin (2003), an ecological approach to language in society requires investigation of the relationship of languages, and the speakers of those languages, and to the social structures in the society in which the languages are spoken. These relationships are visible in ways in which languages are used, and in social actors’ attitude to, and beliefs about, languages. Relationships between languages and their speakers, and languages and societal structures, are subject to their social, political and historical contexts.
Based on the definition by Elaha (2003), sustainability in a language is achieved through being exposd to the culture of the target language. In a research they carried out in language classes in which Germany was the target language, learners stated that they were more involved with the challenges in German culture, and as a result, became more interested in learning the language and developed a sense of a new identity. It is argued that a sense of multinational or international identity is developed through broader and more coherent curricula in which language, literature, arts and culture were taught as a continuous whole. It can thus be argued that the more a curriculum links a target language to the culture, including its arts and literature, the more learners will adopt a new identity. This more global identity may play a key role in retaining knowledge of the language and therefore enhance language sustainability.
In the work of Molaie (2016), he aptly remarks that in order to fully consider the interrelations among factors such as environment, languages, and speakers, one has to consider the foundations of human purposes and relationships. In that regard, education plays a key role. When there are breakdowns in learning, teachers may question themselves or the educational system as well as the students. The great importance here is that knowledge of a language, and hence competence, might fade away. This fading can happen during or after a language course. According to Molaie, there are three factors that can slow down this speedy disappearance which include, language learner’s needs, language and identity and variety of the language.
Blackledge (2002), argues that language ecologies can be better understood if they are linked with a discussion of language ideologies. This is particularly salient as language ecology relates to the inter-relationships between speakers of languages, and these relationships are seen in the way in which languages are used, and in the speakers’ attitudes to and beliefs about language. Relationships between languages and their speakers, and languages societal structures, are subject to their social, political and historical context. Language ecologies include the discourse which constructs values and beliefs about languages at state, institutional, national and global levels.
The theory that is appropriate to explain this research study is the behaviourist theory. The behaviourist theory was propounded by Skinner (1957). It is a theory which analyses the development of a language by first of all looking at the environment in which it is used and human behaviour towards the particular language. It is based on how human beings view a language in terms of their natural occurence in response environmental circumstances and the effects they have on human actions. This theory is divided into two concepts which are the human behaviour and language learning. These concepts explain how we view language in our society, taking into consideration its environment.
Skinner’s behaviourist theory explains the perspectives of English language in a multilingual context. English language learning in Cameroon needs to be functionally empowered or sustained and this can be possible if our view of English language is positive and promising. It is true that circumstances such as the empowerment of the French language is over alarming because the greater part of Cameroonians consist of Francophones, this does not mean that English language should be kept aside and regarded as valueless.
In the realization of this article, we visited the library of the English Modern Letters department (University of Yaounde 1), collected data from documentaries, web articles, books published by various authors and dissertations. We equally followed Television and radio programs in order to know how English language has either been sustained or suppressed in the political, economic, and socio-cultural environment in Cameroon. Since this work is to verify and synthesize the data collected, our analysis shall be the result of the data collected from authors’ articles that must be valid and authentic.
Method of Data Analysis
In order to analyse data collected for this study, we first of all identified the data that was collected from web articles, dissertations, television, radio and other sources. Furthermore, we applied the theory related to the problem and anything needed based on the purpose of the study. We equally interpreted the trends and perspectives in the use and development of English in a society where many other languages exist and we made conclusions based on the data analyzed.
As earlier stated, Cameroon is a multilingual country comprising of about 247 indigenous languages, two official languages and thee Cameroon Pidgin English. The focus of this work is on how English language can be empowered or sustained in a multilingual environment. It presents the various means through which English can survive in Cameroon by introducing it into spheres where learning it will be a necessity. English language in Cameroon is ironically called an official language of which its official portfolio is very minor as compared to French, its companion in official languages in Cameroon. In order to safeguard the linguistic heritage (from our British counterparts) in Cameroon, the following points could be reviewed.
The Effective use of English language in official occasions
The linguistic construction of Cameroon identity in the English language seems to be based on fact that Cameroon is made up of many linguistic entities which includes a variety of languages, and harbours two languages as official languages in the country. As stated in article 1.3:5 of the Cameroon Constitution, the government or state is supposed to guarantee the promotion of bilingualism throughout the country. Till date, the question about the promotion of both languages remains unanswered as French language has tend to be favoured both by the policy makers and language users. We cannot talk of effective bilingualism when one language is widely used in almost all official occasions while the other one is considered useless and thus neglected. As far as sustaining English language in Cameroon is concerned, the government has a vital role to play. The state’s role does not only end at making sure that English is adopted in the education curricular, but also makes sure that the language is equally used. The greater number of official speeches and declarations in Cameroon are made through the use of French language. Most Cameroonians seem to forget the fact that a language conveys the cultural identity, worldview and imagination of the people. How then can English language be reflected in the multilingual identity of Cameroon if it not used? Public officials, namely mayors, governors, senior divisional officers, police officers and gendarmes ought to maintain zero tolerance in upholding Cameroon’s multilingual policy. There are a lot of translators at the presidency in Yaounde who could help translate official documents aimed at public consumption. As per the ecological situation, English language should not be neglected, even though the greater population is that which hails from the Francophone regions.
Writing Billboards and other directives in English language
There are still some conscious or unconscious attempts by the government officials to suppress the Anglo-Saxon culture and language (English language) in Cameroon. This probably explains why in some English speaking towns and cities such as Buea, Tiko, Kumba, Nso, Nkambe, Bali to name a few, there are billboards and toll-gates with inscriptions written in French. As we enter most of these towns, the greeting we receive is: ‘Halte Péage! Such statements should equally be translated into English language as well. Apart from this, there are many monolingual billboards all over the country. As noted by Wuteh (2008), similar linguistic hotchpotch are situated in Cameroonian airports. The Nsimalen Airport commuters are exposed to stomach-churning gibberish such as: ‘To gather dirtiness is good’. This is a word for word translation of the French version which is written: ‘ramasser la saleté c’est bien’. the French in this sentence leaves much to be desired. In order to sustain English language in Cameroon, all official communication in include billboards, memos, letterheads, road-signs, application forms, court forms, police documents, health forms, driver’s licences just to name a few, should be written in both English and French. Despite fact that the linguistic environment in Cameroon is that which favours the Francophones, we should uphold it but not at the expense of English language.
Improvement in English language teaching and learning skills
As far as sustaining English language in a multilingual Cameroon is concerned, one needs to ponder on the teaching and learning methods of English in Cameroonian schools beginning from the primary level to the university level. More effective and interesting methods should be applied in the teaching field. This would attract more learners and speakers of English language. Nowadays, students and individuals who are supposed to sustain English language through speaking have tend to concentrate on Pidgin English and mother tongue languages. Pidgin does not help to empower the growth of English language. Rather, it kills our grammatical competence and reduces our vocabulary of the English language. It is also important to note that, rather than being based on the integration of more languages Spanish, Chinese, Italian and German in secondary and university institutions, we should concentrate on the languages that we have inherited both from our ancestors and former colonial masters and these languages does not exclude English language. It is very important to include English language into spheres where learning them will be a necessity particularly in the career world. Since employment opportunities are not many in Cameroon, one of the major prerequisites for local council, community based-jobs could be the mastery of the two official languages. In that way, English language will not be suppressed. This strategy can be reviewed and implemented by the government so as to safeguard the bilingual status of Cameroon.
Wuteh (2008) notes that, In the judicial branch of government, the interpretation of a letter and spirit of the law is left to the whims and caprices of French-speaking judges who are ignorant of how the Anglo-Saxon legal system operates. This has resulted in several instances in miscarriage of justice. For example, miscarriage of justice was evident during the infamous Yondo Black trial way back in the 1990s when an Anglophone witness was deprived of his right to testify on the grounds that the presiding judge could not understand the English language. One wonders what has become of the pool of trained translators and interpreters at the presidency of the Republic and Ministries in Yaounde who waste valuable time translating trivialities such as inscriptions on ballot papers for elections that have been rigged beforehand. During electoral campaigns, little or no time is allocated to Anglophone opposition leaders who desire to address the nation in a bid to sell their political platforms. The language of instruction and daily routine in the armed forces, police and gendarmerie should not only be the French language. English language should equally have a great role to play in the various domains of administration.
Introduction of more English programs in the social media
The relationship between English language and media (Television and radio) in Cameroon is distant. Most programs on Cameroonian television channels and radio stations are in French which shows that the role played by the television and radio in sustaining English language is very minimal. For example, the Cameroon Radio and Television (CRTV) is another venue where English language is not functionally sustained. Most government owned news network has been so ‘french fried’ that is, about 80 percent of the programs broadcast are solely in French, to the detriment of English-speakers in Cameroon who have the constitutional rights to be informed as well. Even the news items obtained from English-speaking countries overseas are rapidly translated into French to serve the needs to the Francophone majority at the expense of the Anglophone minority. The television and radio in Cameroon can act as means of sustaining English language through an increase on educative talks, show programs, socio-cultural activities and also reported sport activities in English.
Although the Cameroon political system since independence has been relatively accurate to permit the implementation of a constructive language policy, it has done so mainly through writing in the constitution but the practical part of it has been under looked upon. English language in a multilingual country like Cameroon can be promoted to a prominent level as French language in Cameroon depending on the role each and everyone plays in regards to the issue. The failure of sustaining English language in Cameroon to an extent, has brought about the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon. Probably, this is because most Anglophones are facing situations where they are forced to abandon English language which is supposed to be the language which identifies their relationship with their former colonial masters. The reason why they tend to neglect English is because of the linguistic environment in which they find themselves, an environment where majority of the population speak the French language to the detriment of English language and so, almost everything is centered around French.
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