Slang in Cameroon Pidgin English

Abstract

Cameroon Pidgin English is one of the principal languages of inter-ethnic communication in Cameroon. Linguists and writers such as, Mbassi-Manga (1976), Menang (1979, 2005), Mbangwana (1983, 2004), Todd (1984), Ngome (1985), Echu (2003), Simo Bobda and Wolf (2003), Ayafor (2005), Neba et al (2006) and others have examined various aspects of Pidgin English in Cameroon. But as the language continues to grow and spread, there is need to continually tract it. This paper sets out to show the linguistic inventiveness, especially among the young and lively people, in quest of fresh, original, pungent expressions, to rename ideas, actions and entities in Cameroon Pidgin English. It highlights the morphological and semantic innovations of Cameroon Pidgin English slang items across speech and shows their originality of form and meaning. Focus is on their semantic fields, innovative word formation processes such as coinage (neologism), compounding and semantic extension, as well as their novel meaning and social value. All these juvenile qualities combine to give free rein to the impulse to play with the language, making it creative and refreshing.