Contact-Induced Changes: Lexical Borrowings in Territorial Varieties of English and French in Cameroon
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52575/2712-7451-2025-44-4-754-765Keywords:
contact-induced changes, borrowing, calque, multilingual context, English, French, CameroonAbstract
The article provides an insight into the problem of lexical borrowings in the territorial varieties of European languages used in Africa. The aim of the study is to assess the extent to which various ethnic languages and the Cameroonian Pidgin English influence the vocabulary of the territorial variants of English and French spoken in Cameroon. Adopting a comprehensive approach that integrates both linguistic and extralinguistic factors, the study analyzes processes of language contact, borrowing, and their linguistic outcomes. Two complementary classifications of borrowings are proposed – the lexical-morphological and the thematic one. Statistical analysis was conducted to measure the contributions of languages from four cultural areas – Sudano-Sahelian, Grassfield, Fang-Beti, and Coastal Bantu – and the Cameroonian Pidgin English across thematic categories. The findings highlight the differential impact of these cultural areas and underscore the pivotal role of Cameroonian Pidgin English in the process of lexical exchange. The study reveals an ongoing process of lexical enrichment and adaptation in the English and French varieties spoken in Cameroon, emphasizing the dynamic interaction between European and indigenous linguistic systems. This research not only advances understanding of the unique features of territorial varieties of English and French but also offers insights into broader relevance in language contact and variation.
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