A dictionary of Cameroon Pidgin English usage

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of Cameroon Pidgin English, detailing its pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Used for over 500 years, Pidgin English emerged during the Slave Trade, endured a German ban from 1884-1914, and persisted despite post-independence neglect. It evolved from a plantation language to a vital means of communication in homes and public life. Initial codification efforts were made by the Catholic Church for religious materials, followed by American Peace Corps textbook writers who needed the language for rural communication. The work is divided into two parts. The first part includes two chapters: the first offers background on Cameroon’s geography and economy, the evolution of Pidgin, its role in the linguistic landscape, user demographics, domains of use, and future prospects. The second chapter outlines the research design for studying the language's features. The second part serves as a dictionary, presenting a lexical inventory of contemporary Pidgin English used by various practitioners, including media professionals, traders, and children. The appendix features common sayings, proverbs, and samples of conversations and spoken media texts. ISBN 9783862886418. Languages of the World/Dictionaries 60. 306pp. 2015.