Frontiers International Journal of Interdisciplinary studies
The Frontiers international Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies (FIJIS) is a Bi-annual publication of the Frontiers Research Group, an interdisciplinary research group for scholars in the social sciences and the humanities. Scientific contributions which cover subjects in the domains of social sciences and humanities are accepted. papers submitted have not been published before and are not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
AI and Exam Integrity in Cameroon’s Bilingual GCE: A Qualitative Conceptual–Analytical Study
The rapid spread of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including text generators and translation applications, presents new challenges to the authenticity of high-stakes examinations. Cameroon’s bilingual General Certificate of Education (GCE) is particularly exposed due to its dual-language structure and growing student access to AI-assisted writing. This qualitative, conceptual–analytical study examined risks of AI-assisted malpractice using three data sources: official GCE policy documents, written reflections from ten experienced secondary-school teachers and examiners, and an analysis of selected A-Level French examination papers from 2019 to 2025. Data were analysed thematically with a focus on patterns of AI susceptibility, linguistic irregularities, and vulnerabilities in question design. Findings indicate three main risk patterns: (1) automated translation producing near-perfect responses inconsistent with candidates’ general language performance; (2) AI-generated essays enabling structurally coherent but cognitively shallow scripts; and (3) exam items relying on general knowledge showing high susceptibility to machine-generated answers. Analysis of 224 scripts revealed several cases where translation scores exceeded 90% while essays in the same paper fell below 10%, suggesting potential AI involvement. Existing regulations did not explicitly address AI-assisted authorship, and invigilation systems showed limited capacity to detect covert digital tools. AI tools create identifiable authenticity gaps in Cameroon’s bilingual GCE by enabling discrepancies between candidates’ productive skills and their written outputs. Current safeguards insufficiently address these risks, indicating a need for updated policies, examiner training, and improved detection capacity to protect examination validity.
artificial intelligence; academic integrity; examination authenticity; Cameroon GCE; bilingual assessment; qualitative analysis
Copyright (c) 2026 Frontiers International Journal of Interdisciplinary studies
A paradigm of Comparative Lexicology. By Floriana Popescu
This is a book review and does not require an abstract
Is the Postcolonial Dead?—Stuck in Miss Havisham’s Mirror
Since the 1970s, Postcolonial theory has held sway over discussions particularly in the human and social sciences. Its popularity was however the aggregation of previous research whose major flaw was that it had not been attributed a scholarly tag in the form of a theory. From Walter Rodney through Frantz Fanon to Edward Said, there was already significant work in the direction of dismantling imperial and colonial agencies with regards to their impact on what became global enclaves. By the time Bill Ashcroft et al came to the scene, pioneer African writers were already transiting from the colonial period into, and interrogating independence realism. This paper therefore argues that the term “postcolonial” is not only a misnomer but has already exhausted its apparent potentials in claiming and describing a grafted scholarship, especially so because unlike other theories, postcolonialism does not support an ideological base, as was wont to be the case, for the postcolony. In conclusion, the paper suggests that the postcolonial delusion must give way to a more functional research paradigm (after decades of mirage scholarship) that harnesses the postcolony toward acceptable global relevance.
postcolonial, postindependence, theoretical opportunism, neo-native, theory-ideology partnership
FIJIS: Frontiers International Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies Volume 1. Number 1. 2026 Copyright © 2026 Frontiers Research Group, The University of Yaounde 1 EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE The University of Yaounde 1 Centre Region Email: frontiersrg@gmail.com https://fijis-uba.com Tel: +237677734571
Redefining The Soldier Archetype through Postcolonial Lenses: A Reading of John Okada’s No-No Boy, Toni Morrison’s Sula, and N. Scott Momaday’s House Made of Dawn
This study undertakes a postcolonial analysis of the soldier archetype as depicted in John Okada’s No-No Boy (1979), Toni Morrison’s Sula (1973), and N. Scott Momaday’s House Made of Dawn (1968). A comparative literary approach interrogates how these novels challenge and deconstruct the traditional notions of the soldier as an emblem of patriotism, heroism, and national loyalty. Each protagonist, Ichiro Yamada, Shadrack, Plum, and Abel, embodies the complexities and contradictions faced by racialised and colonised subjects within the United States, whose participation in military service simultaneously signifies coerced loyalty and cultural alienation. The analysis foregrounds themes of trauma, silence, hybridity, and ritual as narrative devices employed to convey the fractured identities of these characters, situating their experiences within the broader context of settler colonialism and internal colonialism. Drawing upon the theoretical frameworks of Frantz Fanon (1952), Homi Bhabha, and Edward Said (1978), the study demonstrates how these figures problematise dominant national discourses and expose the limitations of American citizenship and belonging for marginalised communities. Ultimately, this research contends that these novels subvert the hegemonic soldier archetype and articulate alternative modes of survival and resistance through cultural memory and spiritual reclamation. The findings contribute to the discourse on postcolonial subjectivity, race, and nationalism in American literature, illuminating the soldier as a complex locus for examining the intersections of identity, power, and decolonisation.
Soldier, archetype, postcolonial theory, John Okada, Toni Morrison, Scott Momaday
Language and identity (re/de)construction through Cameroon French neology from the MINSEP - FECAFOOT saga
The new linguistic dispensations in emerging postcolonial contexts proffer propitious breeding grounds for the investigation of diverse phenomena. Language users in such multilingual and pluriethnic settings gainfully exploit available sociolinguistic resources and their artistry to come up with interesting features such as neoterms through which identities are (re/de)constructed. Informed by Kozinets (2010) Netnographic Approach which accounts for linguistic behaviour in online cultures and communities, this write-up uses the qualitative design and the descriptive analytical research approaches. The dataset exemplifies different identity shades, viz., individual identity, collective or group identity, place identity and phenomenal identity as culled from a computer-mediated social network platform - DETACHEMENT MINESUP, which regroups Ph.D holders, former Ministry of Secondary Education staff, who were eventually recruited by the Ministry of Higher Education. The study attests to the (re/de)construction of individual, group, place and phenomenal identities through novel forms of expression thanks to a plethora of stylistic and linguistic resources such as affixation, compounding, blending, initialisations, borrowing, synecdoches and metaphors. The study establishes that French neoterms are an inevitable linguistic phenomenon attesting to the legitimacy of Cameroon French as a non-native variety in its own right.
Cameroon French, identity (re/de)construction, neoterms, linguistic resources, netnography
Language, Gender, and Assertiveness in Taxi Drivers’ Communication Practices in Bambili, North West Cameroon
This study investigates the intersection of language, gender, and assertiveness in the context of taxi drivers’ communication styles in Bambili, a culturally diverse environment. Despite the recognised importance of effective communication in service-oriented professions, there remains a dearth of understanding regarding the specific ways in which taxi drivers adapt their language to interact with male and female passengers, and how these adaptations impact their assertiveness. Grounded in the descriptive design, qualitative method, and the Social Identity Theory (Tajfel and Turner, 1979), this research examines the communication styles employed by 40 taxi drivers, aged 25-40, in Bambili. Observational data reveal that drivers’ linguistic strategies vary significantly depending on passenger’s behaviour and gender, with women more frequently associated with confrontational interactions in the observed data. Drivers’ responses to passenger behaviour, such as door-slamming, demonstrate nuanced assertiveness, often employing colloquialisms like "Lock that door small small" or "No spoil me moto massa." Findings corroborate existing research (Lakoff, 1975; Kramer, 1975; Holmes, 1992) highlighting gendered communication patterns, with drivers displaying greater politeness towards men, and, in some cases, older women (Goffman, 1955). The majority of drivers exhibited assertive communication styles. However, the underlying motivations for this assertiveness remain unclear. This investigation elucidates the complex interplay between language, gender, and assertiveness in a real-world context, with implications for communication training in service-oriented professions, passenger satisfaction, and future research on gendered communication dynamics in analogous occupations.
Language, gender, communication styles, assertiveness, taxi drivers
Narcissistic Diplomacy Versus the Scripture: Understanding Conflict in Robert Bolts’ A Man For All Seasons
Human existence is rooted in conflict, and monotheistic religions have historically played dual roles in promoting both conflict and peace. Scriptural verses have often been referenced, interpreted, appropriated and manipulated to fuel violence or justify it. A recent example can be seen in the Israeli Prime Minister’s invocation of scripture to rationalize Israel’s consequent attacks on Gaza, demonstrating a blatant appropriation of biblical and scriptural context to bypass or breach customary expectations to satisfy a vengeful appetite. Claiming that in Robert Bolts’ A Man for all Seasons (1960) an attempt to disassociate from an over reliance on the Church and its doctrines, while simultaneously drawing on its teachings to achieve that, instigates narcistic attitudes. This contradiction results in the creation of opposing camps, each striving to pass as more righteous or dismiss the authenticity of the other, ultimately resulting in conflict. This paper investigates the tension and conflict that arise as a result of scriptural referencing and interpretation, influencing State decision making and international relations. Given that much of decision making about the State relies heavily on the doctrines of the Church, personal interest is prioritized over national interest in the midst of contradictory biblical verses. With an application of theoretical tools from the New Historicist approach, the analysis is geared towards exploring the role of scripture in preventing or facilitating tractions in human and international relations. The paper reveals the following findings: 1) Both the contradictory nature of scripture, along with its usage intensifies conflict. 2) Narcissistic diplomacy undermines unity and 3) the scripture retains potential as a reconciliatory force, though its misuse often outweighs its capacity to foster unity.
Conflict, Narcissistic Diplomacy, New Historicism, Religion
Vocalic Nigerianisms in Cameroon English
This study identifies and describes vocalic nigerianisms connected to the pronunciation of RP monophthongs and diphthongs in the English speech of Cameroonians. Data for the paper constitutes a total of 294 utterances of 36 different Cameroonians who are clergymen, traders, gospel singers and comedians online and in real-life. The data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively using Phonostylistics and Contact Linguistics as the theories. The findings reveal that different Cameroonians, born and bred in Cameroon, display several vocalic traits of Nigerian English in the pronunciation of the NURSE, STRUT, SCHWA, KIT, LOT, GOOSE, SQUARE, NEAR, FACE and MOUTH vowels. Findings also show that the respondents accent-switch or accent-mix as they use nigerianisms mostly when carrying out specific activities such as preaching, trading, and humour creation. The study recommends in the end that stakeholders should note the differences between Cameroon English and Nigerian English and limit the context of use rather than sacrifice their accent for a foreign one.
Nigerianisms, Cameroon English, phonology, vocalic, monophthongs, diphtongs
Enhancing Health Communication through Digitalization: The Case of the Multilingual Landscape of Cameroon
This study explores the utilization of digital platforms for disseminating health-related information in Cameroon's indigenous languages. Despite the country's high illiteracy rate in official languages, efforts to sensitize the population on disease prevention, diagnosis, and management often rely on French or English mediums. Focusing on COVID-19 response information, the research examines the translation and digitalization of health content by non-governmental organizations (KPAAM-CAM, CABTAL, and SIL) in various indigenous languages. An interview was carried out with ten (10) linguists from The University of Bamenda to assess the level of awareness of these digital platforms. It was also Guided by Paul Freire's participatory model of communication, a qualitative content analysis of digital platforms reveals a limited scope of sensitization, with only COVID-19 information being translated and disseminated. The study recommends translating and digitalizing campaign contents on prevalent diseases like malaria, typhoid fever, and HIV/AIDS to ensure equitable access to healthcare information for all Cameroonians, regardless of their language proficiency.
Digitalization, diseases, health-care information, illiteracy, indigenous language
The Impact of African Female Literary Authors on STEM Education and Gender Awareness
Globally, women comprise fewer than 30% of STEM researchers, with African nations experiencing exacerbated disparities stemming from cultural stereotypes, religious barriers, and resource constraints. Although real-world role models enhance girls’ STEM aspirations, the potential of African women’s speculative fiction as a catalyst for gender equity is not sufficiently explored. This study examines the influence of Nnedi Okorafor’s Lagoon and Namwali Serpell’s The Old Drift on STEM perceptions and gender awareness among Cameroonian university students, framed by social role theory (for stereotype subversion) and the Longwe Empowerment Framework (for access, conscientisation, control). Thematic analysis of 80 excerpts identified 68 instances of female STEM agency across these dimensions. Four Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) (n=24 participants: two STEM and two Literature/Languages groups, with six females aged 18–25 per group) at the Universities of Buea and Douala used Longwe-aligned questions, following pre-session reading of excerpts. Thematic analysis revealed portrayals of African-centred STEM that challenge gender norms. FGDs demonstrated strong resonance: 92% of Buea STEM students identified Adaora’s resourcefulness as realistic; 83% of Douala Literature students recognised religious barriers from personal experience; 75% envisioned curriculum applications. Literature students emphasised advocacy roles; STEM students reported aspiration shifts. We concluded that African women’s speculative fiction fosters STEM gender awareness through relatable narratives subverting stereotypes. Findings advocate embedding excerpts in higher education curricula across Cameroon’s university contexts. Future longitudinal FGDs should track sustained behavioural impacts.
African Female Authors, Afrofuturism, Gender Awareness, Focus Groups, Longwe Framework, Social Role Theory, STEM Education
Conflict and Opportunistic Migration in the 21st Century. Challenges and way forward for Development Policy
Migration, like trade remains a divisive topic amongst academics, policy makers and constituents in many areas around the world. While there is notable reluctance at the international level to engage in serious debate on the issue of migration, there is a tacit consensus on ‘sympathy’ towards streams of migrants displaced as a result of conflicts around the world. Such ‘sympathy’ is however not without criticism, as many authors question the contribution of often nationalistic and shortsighted migration policy amongst other issues (like trade) to the causes of conflicts, and subsequently the root cause of ‘forced migration’. When it does occur, debates on the advantages and disadvantages of migration often neglect the fundamental rights of the migrants, as they are often treated like mere pieces in a puzzle. The focus of this perspective study is therefore to examine a ‘smaller stream’ of migrants that move from conflict-stricken regions, not necessarily because they have been directly affected by conflict, but because conflicts provide opportunities for long-nursed migration plans to materialize. The paper zooms in on the ongoing Anglophone crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon as a case study, utilizing secondary data on asylum applications from the years 2021 to 2023 in the United states to show that early motivation, access to human and financial resources play an important role in determining the direction, route, and timing of migration. We contend that while this migration trend is unfortunate (it prevents authorities from capturing the real situation of those in actual need of assistance), it is a consequence of stringent migration policies in many host countries and the economic situation in home countries. We note that while this practice needs to be discouraged, the consequences on the global, national, and individual levels are not always negative. It therefore appeals to a more comprehensive migration reform at the national and international level, considering migration as an important tool for poverty alleviation in developing countries.
Migration, poverty alleviation, conflicts, and opportunism
The Ordeal of African Immigrants in Contemporary America: Analysis of Chimamanda Ngozi Adechie’s Americanah and No Violet Bulawayo’s We Need New Names
The plight of African immigrants seeking better opportunities abroad has become increasingly awful in the 21st century. Every week, hundreds of Africans lose their lives attempting to reach Europe and the United States through illegal migration routes. Driven by abject poverty, unemployment, political instability, and violence in their home countries, many risks dangerous journeys in hope of a better future. Thousands are detained at borders, and many perish in deserts and seas along their way. As the American Senate and countries within the European Union debate immigration policies, focusing on undocumented immigrants, deportation, and visa quotas for skilled workers, the experiences of those who do arrive are often marked by hardship. African immigrants in America face significant challenges, which include racial discrimination, identity crisis, cultural dislocation, and the struggle for integration in a multicultural society (Amstutz, 2015). This paper explores these ordeals through a critical analysis of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah and NoViolet Bulawayo We Need New Names. It interrogates the promise of the American dream in the lives of African immigrants. Framed by African American and Postcolonial literary theories, the study contends that for many immigrants, the promise of a better life is complicated by systemic and personal struggles, ultimately raising the question of whether “home” might offer a more authentic sense of belonging. The findings indicate that neither America nor Europe serves as a safe haven for African immigrants. Adiche and Bulawayo have thus contributed significantly to the discourse on immigration in contemporary African and diaspora fiction. Their novels underscore the importance of understanding the immigrant experience as an interplay of opportunity and disillusionment
immigration, African American, identity, racism, integration and multiculturalism
Religion and Dissociative Identity Disorder in Marlon James’s John Crow’s Devil
Religion and faith guide and affect man’s behaviour and partly contribute to social conflicts because of their fear-based teachings and rigid dogma in post-colonial culture. This paper analyses Marlon James’s John Crow’s Devil to depict how religion influences physical and psychological dissociation of characters in the Jamaican society. To understand the mind frame of James’s characters, the paper asks four research questions; one, what is the cause of the religious conflict in the novel; two, how do James’s charlatan preachers use biblical verses and mystical forces to intimidate, manipulate and control the minds and actions of their followers; three, which psychoanalytical strategies can be used to analyse religious hypocrisy and establish that characters suffer from forms of “dissociation”; four, how can the novel serve as a satire on churches responsible for different psycho-social conflicts? Drawing on insights from Karl Gustav Jung’s Psychoanalysis, especially concepts like “Self” and “Dissociation”, I contend that religion in the novel contributes to Dissociative Identity Disorders (DID) like anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive behaviours in characters. Moreover, James’s central characters – Pastor Hector Bligh and Apostle Lucas York violate the right to religious freedom and misrepresent biblical scriptures to legitimise violence and torture on their enemies. My reading of James’s characters shows that they suffer from Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) as a sign of a cultural bias that misidentifies the individual Ego which make them travel to other locations and taking on new identities. The methodology for this paper is a critical textual analysis that offers nostalgic reflections on the idyllic image of James’s Jamaica before and after the religious encounters. My essay concludes that redemption and social justice are multifaceted epistemologies proposed by the author to overcome dissociative disorders and avoid severe pain in characters suffering from traumatic experiences.
Dissociative Identity Disorder, Multiple Personality, Dissociative Fugue, Self, Psychoanalysis
System of Objects Production and Issues of Museum Process in Contemporary Africa: Art and Heritage in the Bamum Cultural Universe
Whereas the system of object production in the Bamum country was originally closely linked to the political and social organization embodied by royal authority, it is also noticeable that, in recent times, artists have emancipated themselves and now occupy a prominent place in this society. They have gradually moved away from a traditionalism that limited their creative freedom through the reproduction of essentially ethnographic objects (ritual or symbolic). Today’s trend is influenced by aesthetic and economic concerns. This development should have an impact on the ongoing process of musealization in this kingdom, where the objects on display contribute more to the staging of power and the transmission of cultural values. This situation contrasts with the increasingly popular rise of contemporary works that belong more to the realm of art than to heritage. This shift in perspective raises the issue of the inadequacy of the museological project in relation to present realities. However, concerns for the preservation and enhancement of heritage can adapt to exhibition demands in this era of globalization. In other words, this situation gives rise to divergences between the external artistic gaze and local meanings. Through the current artistic dynamism in Foumban, the Bamum region offers an interesting experimental framework for confronting elements of tradition and modernity that are currently in vogue. In this context, the recently established museum in the region, primarily dedicated to royal collections, seems to endorse a postcolonial approach namely ethnographic, identity-centered, and essentially nostalgic at the expense of aesthetics.
Bamum culture, Cultural linkage, Heritage, Museum, Primitivist orthodoxy
The Constructs of Space in Ruth Prawer Jhabvala’s “The Young Couple”, Anita Desai’s “Games at Twilight” and Ismith Khan’s “The Red Ball”
Space as socially constructed per Lefebvre (1991), structures narrative perspectives on belonging. This work examines the construction of space in Anita Desai's “Games at Twilight”, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's “The Young Couple” and Ismith Khan's “The Red Ball”. It seeks to answer the question: How do spatial considerations relate to belonging, disillusionment and resilience in Anita Desai's “Games at Twilight”, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's “The Young Couple” and Ismith Khan's “The Red Ball”? It is hypothesized that while places often present conceived possibilities of hope and success, a mismatch between conceived and lived spaces produces concrete constraints that the protagonists struggle to overcome. Using the Spatial Theory by Henri Lefebvre, the paper reveals that space plays a significant role in the visions, aspirations and actions of individuals as they have to show resilience in coping with the challenges they face when they change locales. The research explores the construction and experience of space in the texts, highlighting themes of nostalgia, migration, displacement, alienation, empowerment and cultural adaptation. This paper stretches the ongoing conversation on how characters navigate disillusionment and resilience in postcolonial regions; and how it impacts identity (re)formation
Space, Vision, Displacement, Disillusionment, Resilience, Spatial Theory, Commonwealth Writers
Sexuality at the Crossroads of Modernism, Humanism and Spirituality in the Poetry of Robert Graves
The advent of modernism in western literature did not only engender in British poets the questioning of political ideologies and the literary canon, but also, the depiction of complex sexual identities. In this dimension, this paper, therefore, examines the dynamics of sexual representation at the crossroads of modernism, humanism and spirituality in Robert Graves’s poetry. It demonstrates that sexual expressions emanating from modernist and humanist praxis, systematically orientate towards a postmodernist/post humanist sex dilemma. With the aid of post structural/feminist theoretical tools, and from textual analyses of selected poems, the paper sustains the claim that in spite of modernist frustrations and humanist scientific orientation of sexuality, Graves’s feminine subjects are uplifted spiritually in line with pre-modernist values.
Humanism, Modernism, Sexuality, Spirituality
Gentrification and Displacements in Sub Saharan Africa: Insights from Bamenda Municipality of the North West Region of Cameroon
Gentrification is a powerful force for economic change, however, it is accompanied by displacements, linked to different phases and forms of transformation especially in the third world where remarkable income differences and poverty plaque most urban dwellers. Displacement is a traumatic experience with mental and physical challenges that inflicts considerable hardships on the victims. Despite the salience of this issue, the focus of most academic debates in Sub Saharan Africa orbits around socio-economic development and urban poverty. To close this gap, this study seeks to (1) identify the drivers of displacement and the role of gentrification in the displacement process in Bamenda and (2) examine the patterns and socio-economic implications of displacement in Bamenda. To attain these objectives the study employed a mixed research design, administering 120 questionnaire to household heads in displaced neighbourhoods. Beside questionnaire, recurrent field survey and key informant interviews with displaced victims (residents, business persons and institutions) were conducted across the city to understand the drivers, forms and waves of displacement. This was updated with secondary data gotten from scientific journals and documents from other institutions concern with the displaced. Findings reveal that displacement within the municipality of Bamenda is dominantly driven by commercial growth and intensification of urban activities (30%), followed by insecurity (27%) which has been very significant from 2016 till date. Four forms of displacements were found to be associated with different phases of urban transformation over time. Prominent among them is the displacement of urban dwellers (40%) followed by commercial displacement (30%), which is most prevalent within the socio-political crisis era. Results also indicate that displacement intensities vary spatio-temporally, with highest intensities in the high density residential zone before 2016 followed by low density residential zone linked to insecurity. This has resulted to economic hardship (33.33%), homelessness (25%), social and economic breakdown (21.67%) and trauma (20%). Base on these the study recommends re-housing options locally to accommodate the displaced in order to reduce homelessness and financial burdens, increased police surveillance to reduce insecurity, proactive planning to minimize over densification as well as rental control to curb excessive rental increase that riggers displacement in Bamenda.
Gentrification, Displacement, Drivers, Patterns, Implications
Negotiating Caution in a Bilingual Setting: A Comparative Study of Hedging in Essays by French-Speaking and English-Speaking Students in Cameroon
This study investigates the use of hedging devices in the essays of French-speaking and English-speaking students at Government Bilingual High School Yaoundé, Cameroon. In a sociolinguistic landscape characterised by official bilingualism, this research examines how linguistic and educational backgrounds influence the pragmatic expression of tentativeness, politeness, and epistemic caution in student writing. Drawing on theories of genre, corpus linguistics, and hedging taxonomies, the study combines quantitative and qualitative approaches to analyse student essays from both sub-systems. Key findings reveal that while both groups employ a range of hedging strategies, their preferences and frequency differ significantly. English-speaking students exhibit a wider range of epistemic markers and discourse-level hedges, whereas French-speaking students favour modal constructions and approximators. The study attributes these differences to linguistic transfer and rhetorical conventions inherited from each linguistic tradition. The research contributes to our understanding of hedging in multilingual academic contexts and offers pedagogical recommendations to improve metadiscursive awareness and writing proficiency. In doing so, it highlights the intersection of language, identity, and educational policy in shaping student discourse in Cameroon.
Hedging, Essay writing, official bilingualism, language identity
Linguistic Challenges and Adaptation Strategies for Migrants: The Case of IDPs in the West Region of Cameroon
Internal displacement due to violent conflict has been a persistent challenge in Cameroon's West Region. Beyond the physical and economic upheaval, displaced populations often face significant linguistic barriers when integrating into host communities. This makes communication difficult thereby resulting to communication breakdown. (Chiatoh & Tchakote, 2020). In this regard, this paper seeks to examine the linguistic challenges encountered by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the West Region and the adaptation strategies they employ to navigate their new linguistic environments, to determine whether culture influences linguistic acquisition. Hinged on Berry’s (1997) Acculturation theory, 60 participants (30 males and 30 females) within the ages of 20-35 were purposely selected as respondents for the questionnaire. This paper contributes to a more holistic understanding of the challenges and adaptation strategies surrounding internal displacement in a linguistically diverse context like Cameroon's West Region. The findings reveal that 88% of IDPs in the West Region face significant linguistic challenges, primarily because the majority are English speakers residing in areas dominated by French and local dialects. This barrier results in a lack of information and restricted access to essential services. To overcome these obstacles, most respondents (89%) use translation apps and digital tools. These findings hold important implications for designing more effective and multilingual approaches to support the integration of displaced persons.
linguistic challenges, adaptation strategies, Internally Displaced Persons
Linguistic Coexistence and Hegemony Resistance by Secondary School Teachers in the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon
This quantitative study set out to investigate resistance to linguistic hegemony (domination) of French over English and hegemony of French and English over national languages in Cameroon. Using a well-structured questionnaire, the survey investigated 100 secondary school teachers (both Anglophone and Francophone) purposively sampled from the Buea and Bamenda the headquarters of the Southwest and Northwest regions of Cameroon. The generated data were analysed using IBM SPSS 20.0 for the descriptive frequency analysis presented in tables and figures in the results section. Through the lens of linguistic imperialism theory, the study examined two levels of linguistic domination that demonstrate a significant language policy crisis in the country. Findings reveal that French hegemony is caused by its majority status and its imposition on Anglophones as a colonial language, while Cameroonian national languages are marginalised because of minority status and lack of institutional development. Findings equally show that linguistic hegemony is resisted through the media, literature and education. To achieve linguistic equality, the study recommends that all information of general interest in the country be documented in English and French. It equally recommends that citizens be guaranteed the freedom to use their preferred language(s) in official settings and that each language be made official in its respective territorial space. The study advocates for the development and standardisation of national languages, such that they can enjoy the same prestige as the foreign official languages. All these require strong commitment from the government and relentless efforts from policy makers.
hegemony resistance, linguistic coexistence, official languages, national languages/mother tongues
21st century literary and humanities pedagogy: The question of relevance
This article explores 21st century literary and humanities education through the lenses of cultural evolution and socio-economic relevance. The study addresses the problem of how educational policies and curricula shapes knowledge production and how literature and humanities disciplines can re-dynamise their curricula to enhance the labour market access in post-independence Cameroon. The article argues that the humanities and literary studies, long positioned as the intellectual foundation of nation-building, now occupy a precarious space within the global landscape that is dominated by STEM disciplines in Cameroon. It explores how colonial legacies, post-independence inadequacies and contemporary economic pressures shape education as a tool of modernisation and sustainability leading to national identity. The article contends that renewed relevance can emerge in literature and humanities pedagogy through integrative pedagogies – such as holistic learning, interdisciplinarity, real-world connections, skill development and culturally relevant methods as strategies in Cameroonian pedagogy. It further demonstrates that the humanities and literary studies retain an indispensable role in shaping reflective, resilient and socially grounded citizens. The call, therefore, is for the reimagining of literary studies and the humanities attuned to local and global transformations with the goal of reforming the post-independence educational policy in Cameroon and by extension, Africa. The paper proceeds through conceptual analysis, textual illustrations and policy critique rather than through data collection, measurement and intervention with the major outcome being that literature and the humanities studies in Cameroon need a refocused in teaching to make the discipline(s) find relevance in the post-independence and postmodern context.
Humanities pedagogy, Literary studies, post-independence education, STEM dominance, Relevance