The Revitalization of Cameroonian Languages through the Translation of Some Official Documents: The Case of Kom in Boyo Division

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James N. Tasah
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The Revitalization of Cameroonian Languages through the Translation of Some Official Documents: The Case of Kom in Boyo Division

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Abstract

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.

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Funding

No external funding was declared for this work.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

No ethics committee approval was required for this article type.

Data Availability

Not applicable for this article.

How to Cite This Article

james_n._tasah. 2021. \u201cThe Revitalization of Cameroonian Languages through the Translation of Some Official Documents: The Case of Kom in Boyo Division\u201d. Global Journal of Human-Social Science - G: Linguistics & Education GJHSS-G Volume 21 (GJHSS Volume 21 Issue G3): .

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Journal Specifications

Crossref Journal DOI 10.17406/GJHSS

Print ISSN 0975-587X

e-ISSN 2249-460X

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GJHSS-G Classification: FOR Code: 200399p
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v1.2

Issue date

March 2, 2021

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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.

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The Revitalization of Cameroonian Languages through the Translation of Some Official Documents: The Case of Kom in Boyo Division

James N. Tasah
James N. Tasah

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