Dr. Sirih-Nagang Nancy Nyindem
Language of coercion of the Separatist fighters in the Anglophone crisis of Cameroon.
Dr. Sirih-Nagang Nancy Nyindem
Abstract
Language plays an essential role in crises as it may be used for violent purposes where the use and manipulation of lexemes to inflict psychological or physical harm on the other or oneself. The Separatist Fighters (SF), commonly referred to as the Ambazonian freedom fighters during the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon that started in 2016, have succeeded in establishing terror within the communities of the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon (North West and South West Regions) even without physical action or presence, but, through frequent verbal messages and speeches shared on social media. This study evaluates the elements of violence in the speeches of the SF that cause upheaval in these communities. This research identifies and describes the impact of the language used by the (SF). Using the language documentation approach, this research transcribes, explains, clarifies, and translates the Cameroon Pidgin English (CPE) SF used to coerce the population of the Anglophone regions. In addition, the discourse analysis and the relativism frameworks will allow me to (1) depict elements of culture, violence and crime in the speeches of the SF and (2) establish the lexicon/corpus of violence in CPE. This study reveals that just like physical war weapons, language is an instrument powerful enough to create terror within a community. This study adds new evidence to the existing theory of language and violence by demonstrating, through the case of the anglophone crisis of Cameroon, that Language plays an essential role in conflict management as it may ignite, incite and escalate a conflict or reflect the negative impact of the conflict.
Date: 16th of July 2024, 16:15-17:45 (H 26, GW I)