Camfrang forever! Metacommunication in and about Camfranglais

This paper explores aspects of the deliberate usage, transformation and status-negotiation of Camfranglais in Cameroon. There are many examples of metacommunication among speakers: heated discussions of whether or not this variety should be promoted (even to the status of a national language), lamentations about why teachers and parents dislike and fight it so much, and even word planning sessions are not unusual. Based on the analysis of several internet forums as well as material from my own field-research, I examine the close relationship many young Cameroonians – especially those living outside of Cameroon – establish between the use of Camfranglais and their Cameroonian identity. It will be shown that the linguistic awareness of young, urban Camfranglophones is very high, setting it apart from other youth language phenomena worldwide.

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