Yaoundé, dynamique foyer du multilinguisme et du multiculturalisme à l’épreuve du darwinisme linguistique

Abstract

Since its official creation by the Germans and its historical evolution, Yaoundé, the political capital of Cameroon, the seat of national institutions, home to numerous local, regional and international political, academic and commercial bodies, has become a megalopolis of unwavering cosmopolitanism. In addition to its diverse, varied and above all welcoming and hospitable local population, this city has received, since colonisation, many different peoples. As a refuge for internal and foreign migrants, Ongola has offered them vast territories that have become the object of cultural and linguistic mixing. Our contribution aims to show that, in this linguistic and cultural diversity, each language, among the two hundred present, maintains its dynamism and cohabits with French and English, both international languages. Yaoundé is also witnessing the birth of new languages such as Camfranglais, which is a unifying force for the younger generation and shows, in the light of areal linguistics, that Cameroonians, together, are moving towards a harmonious homogeneity despite slight tremors.