Introducing the subject of English in Africa, this book examines the usage of English in education and in African literature. The range of language forms and the attitudes towards English are discussed. The author considers the influence of English on African languages.

A West African Perspective A unique addition to the ongoing world-wide discussion of the status of English as a world language. Contributions from distinguished academics from West Africa and other parts of the world examine the ramifications of the English as a second or foreign language, including its position in various national language policies within the educational system and as a medium of literature.

The papers in this volume fall under two main themes. The first deals broadly with multilingualism and language contact in West Africa in general and Cameroon in particular. Important topics discussed in this section include: the structure and discursive use(s) of the various forms and uses of Pidgin English, the ways the French language and African languages have influenced each other through loaning (both direct and indirect) and a description of local forms of Africanised European languages (especially French). The second part concerns language teaching and learning in contact situations. Important topics discussed under this section include: multilingualism and second language acquisition, interference, a lexical appraisal of the language of second (third) language learners, and the influence of European languages on the learning of other European languages in West Africa. European Languages; Pidgin English in Cameroon: A Veritable Linguistic Menu; L'enrichissement du Francais en Milieu Fulfulde au Cameroun; Emprunts au Pidgin-English dans le Francais du Cameroun: Situation et Apports; Indirect Borrowing: A Source of Lexical Expansion; Le Phonetisme du Francais Oral en Milieu Tupuri au Nord Cameroun; Problematique de la Composition Nominale Toponymique dans les Enseignes Publicitaires Camerounaises; La Siglaison Comme L'Expression de la Cohabitation du Francais et de L'Anglais au Cameroun; Multiligualism and Second Language Acquisition in the Northern Mandara Mountains of Cameroon; L'Allemande et le Francais en Contact: Quelques Erreurs D'Interference des Apprenants Camerounais de L'Allemand; The English of French-Speaking Cameroonians: A Lexical Appraisal; L'Influence du Francais dans L'Apprentissage de L'Espagnol Comme Langue Etrangere au Cameroun; Contacts/Conflits des Langues, Insecurite Linguistique et Implications Didactiques au Cameroun; Epilogue; Index.