The Perceptions and Attitudes of Francophone Cameroonians towards Cameroon Francophone English Pronunciation

Abstract

This study investigates both the way educated Francophone users of English in Cameroon perceive their English accent and the attitudes they have towards it. Their opinions on the Cameroon Francophone English accent are formulated in comparison with the accent of their Anglophone counterparts. To carry out the investigation, a questionnaire was designed and administered to 150 carefully-selected informants. The analysis of the data collected reveals the following findings: Francophone Cameroonians are convinced that the English they speak is significantly different from the one Anglophone Cameroonians speak. They believe that their speech, contrarily to that of Anglophones, is close to native English and is Pidgin-free. The respondents showcased a very positive attitude towards Cameroon Francophone English and expressed their wish to see it documented and used for educational practices as early as possible.