Research
The Creation and Standardization of Information and Communication Technologies Terminology in Cameroonian Languages: The Case of Kom
One of the main objections often advanced against using indigenous languages in the domain of Information and Communication Technology (Henceforth, ICTSs) is the alleged absence of relevant terminology comparable to that available in exoglossic languages. This erroneous belief is often expressed in the view that local languages cannot be used adequately to express technological and scientific concepts. With increasing numbers of computers and penetration of the internet in different localities in Cameroon, some linguists are creating and standardizing ICTS terminology in different languages. Due to the scarcity and significant absence of most Cameroonian languages in cyberspace, this study examines the strategies used in creating some ICTS terms in the Kom language. The study advances some reasons for the digital divide in Cameroon and also looks at the importance of developing ICTSs. It examines some challenges and principles of terminology creation in Kom.
The Revitalization of Cameroonian Languages through the Translation of Some Official Documents: The Case of Kom in Boyo Division
In the discussions of the status of African languages today, especially among linguists, one of the problems that keep coming up is the need for the revitalization of endangered languages threatened by the current trend of globalization. Most Cameroonian languages are used only for local socialization in the respective communities, but not in official domains in the administration because foreign languages have overshadowed them; and become the preferred mode of communication among the younger generation. This paper argues that the revitalization of Kom through the translation of some official documents will enable the language not only to assume some of the prestige-conferring and valorizing functions, but also penetrate new domains in the local municipality hitherto monopolized by colonial languages. This strategy is proposed based on the argument that once a language’s status is raised through any revitalization technique, the speakers will perceive it on more equal ground with official languages albeit as a ‘Local Official Language’ (LOL). It uses the UN’s 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the conceptual framework.
