Rescuing Endangered Cameroonian Languages through the Documentation and Publication of Digital Audio Materials
Keywords:
endangered language, documentation, publishing, Proclaimer, ScripturesAbstract
The majority of materials published in Cameroon are mainly on English and French even though most Cameroonians particularly those living in the rural areas speak local languages. In this era of globalization and multi-media platforms where information on sound and video gradually seems to be replacing books, this paper argues that the increased publication of materials in different audio formats and a strong government’s legislation for the introduction of all unwritten languages in education will greatly rescue endangered Cameroonian languages. The argument for publishing in endangered languages is proposed on the bases of some speakers’ increased involvement and participation in their communities’ literacy activities as a result of the ongoing use of the Proclaimer (audio Scriptures) in Mofu-Gudur, Bafut and Kako among others. Its use has not only enhanced and revalorized the statuses of these languages, but also shaped entrenched attitudes. This paper briefly presents the situation of endangered languages in Cameroon, and examines some challenges in publishing in indigenous languages. It also provides some reasons for publishing in these languages and the progressive publication of Scriptural materials in different gadgets and ends with some perspectives.
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