Path dependence in the official use of Cameroon Pidgincreole in the Anglophone Crisis: from Diasporic usage to home consciousness

Abstract

Since languages are like humans in that they are born, they grow and they die, the fight for survival and recognition is evident. The path to this survival and recognition determines the whole process. This paper profiles the gradation in the use of CPc by top government officials in Cameroon and how subordinates follow the same path in official dialogue with the populations of the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon during the anglophone crisis. This research simply presents a pattern of acceptance as one speech in CPc during the anglophone crisis led to more speeches in CPc in similar situations by people who otherwise would not have been comfortable using the language. This study is not interested in the linguistics elements of the speeches used; it will not analyse them. Brief excerpts of the speeches of an Anglophone activist from the Diaspora and some four top ranking officials of the government are drawn from the media for this purpose. With recourse to the path dependent theory, this study holds that this positive attitude towards CPc created an envious path, which other personalities followed and many more will continue to follow, consequently setting a stage for a possible official recognition of CPc.