Cameroonian French is a variety of

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

spoken in Cameroon. As a former

French colony The French colonial empire () comprised the overseas Colony, colonies, protectorates, and League of Nations mandate, mandate territories that came under French rule from the 16th century onward. A distinction is generally made between the "Firs ...

, the country's history has shaped its language, resulting in a distinct variant of French that reflects the country's diverse cultural, linguistic, and historical background.

Historical context

In the 19th century, Cameroon became the German colony

Kamerun Kamerun was an African colony of the German Empire from 1884 to 1916 in the region of today's Republic of Cameroon. Kamerun also included northern parts of Gabon and the Congo with western parts of the Central African Republic, southwestern ...

, before it was split into

French Cameroon French Cameroon, also known as the French Cameroons (), was a French mandate territory in Central Africa. It now forms part of the independent country of Cameroon. Eastern part of the former German colony of Cameroon (). Its status, from ...

and

British Cameroon British Cameroons or British Cameroon was a British mandate territory in British West Africa, formed of the Northern Cameroons and Southern Cameroons. Today, the Northern Cameroons forms parts of the Borno, Adamawa and Taraba states of Niger ...

after

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. This division significantly influenced the linguistic landscape, giving rise to the emergence of Cameroonian French and

Cameroonian English Cameroonian English is an English dialect spoken predominantly in Cameroon, mostly learned as a second language. It shares some similarities with English varieties in neighbouring West Africa, as Cameroon lies at the west of Central Africa. It i ...

Number of speakers

Referring to literacy data in the

official languages An official language is defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary as, "the language or one of the languages that is accepted by a country's government, is taught in schools, used in the courts of law, etc." Depending on the decree, establishmen ...

of the population aged 12 years and over according to the 2005 Cameroon census, 6,405,981 people speak French as their main official language, with another 1,293,502 people able to speak both French and

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

. The total number of French speakers in Cameroon is 6,405,981 people. Meanwhile, according to the

Organisation internationale de la Francophonie The (OIF; sometimes shortened to ''La Francophonie'', , sometimes also called International Organisation of in English) is an international organization representing where there is a notable affiliation with French language and culture. ...

(OIF), Cameroon's French speakers numbered around 11 million in 2022.

Characteristics

Cameroonian French is primarily based on Metropolitan French, the standard variety spoken in France. However, it has incorporated numerous elements from Cameroonian languages. The Cameroonian mindset of intercultural exchange has contributed to the adaptation and integration of local languages into everyday speech patterns. One significant characteristic of Cameroonian French is the presence of loanwords from native languages such as Ewondo,

Duala Duala or Douala can refer to: Relating to Cameroon * Duala people, an ethnic group in Cameroon * Duala language, part of the Bantu languages * Douala, the largest city in Cameroon, founded by the Duala people * Rudolf Duala Manga Bell (1873–1914), ...

, and

Basaa language Basaa (also spelled ''Bassa, Basa, Bissa''), or Mbene, is a Bantu language spoken in Cameroon by the Basaa people. It is spoken by about 300,000 people in the Centre and Littoral regions. Maho (2009) lists North and South Kogo as dialects. B ...

. These loanwords enhance and enrich the vocabulary, adding a distinct flavor to the language. For instance, terms like "mbom" (delicious) or "mbombo" (drum) have found their way into the Cameroonian French lexicon. Furthermore, Cameroonian French exhibits syntactic and grammatical influences from indigenous languages as well. This combination results in different sentence structures, intonations, and unique pronunciations.

Sociolinguistic significance

Cameroonian French holds great importance in the country's social fabric and serves as a symbol of national identity. It is widely spoken across the nation, spanning various socio-economic and educational backgrounds. From informal conversations to formal academic and administrative settings, Cameroonian French serves as a medium of communication within the country. Moreover, Cameroonian French has become an integral part of the country's popular culture, including music, literature, and cinema. Many Cameroonian artists and writers choose to express themselves in this language, giving their work a distinctively Cameroonian flavor. Standard French is often privileged in formal education and professional settings, leading to the marginalization of Cameroonian French speakers. However, efforts are being made to promote and recognize the linguistic richness of Cameroonian French, aiming for greater acceptance and inclusion. Additionally, the growth of technology and social media has opened up new avenues for the preservation and promotion of Cameroonian French. Online communities and digital platforms allow people to share their linguistic experiences, document the language's evolution, and foster a sense of pride in Cameroonian French.

References

Bibliography

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:French, Cameroonian