Imaginaire et représentations linguistiques des langues officielles en contexte de bilinguisme Officiel : cas des cadres de l’administration publique et parapublique inscrits au centre Linguistique pilote de Yaoundé

Abstract

This work titled Imaginaire et représentations linguistiques des langues officielles en contexte de bilinguisme officiel : cas des cadres de l’administration publique et parapublique inscrits au Centre Linguistique Pilote de Yaoundé, carries out a sociolinguistic analysis of linguistic practices, attitudes and representations in the Cameroonian administrative setting with respect to English and French. The study follows from the observation that linguistic practices of French-speaking and English-speaking administrative executives in the statal and parastatal administration, seem not to meet the expectations of the population. The study examines the extent to which official bilingualism is practised on a parity bases in the Cameroonian administration. To this end, a set of homogeneous theoretical tools including linguistic practices and representations has been used to highlight the scope of linguistic practices of administrative executives in their socioprofessional milieu. From a methodological perspective, a survey has been carried out using a questionnaire. The findings reveal that interlingual practices within the Cameroonian administration remain problematic for the effectiveness of official bilingualism. Besides, language planning in this professional environment reflects the linguistic landscape of the Cameroonian state.