Negotiating belonging and language attitudes of Francophone Cameroonian migrants in Pretoria : a case study

Abstract

Francophone Cameroonian migrants in Pretoria face socioeconomic challenges such as language barrier and difficulties in mingling with locals. Migrants are not easily accepted by locals and often face harassment. This is accentuated by negative perceptions that see migrants as economic threat to locals. South African labour laws make it difficult for migrants to find employment, yet, migrants must live in cities where cost of living is high to avoid townships where cost of living is low for fear of harassment by locals. This complexed nature of their relationship with host society stretches migrant to belong “here and there”–transmigration.” Francophone Cameroonian migrants belong to Pretoria and Cameroon, but their language attitudes in Pretoria may be different from their attitudes back home because of the precarious nature of transmigration. This study therefore seeks to answer the following questions; How does transmigration influence language attitudes and belonging? What is the role of indigenous languages when negotiating belonging in Pretoria? Has the emotional linguistic attachment of Francophone Cameroonians in Pretoria changed vis-à-vis French language? And if so, how and why?