Douala: Scholars brainstorming on preserving linguistics.

It is hosted by University of Douala. The three-day gathering, runs from September 10 to 12, 2025.

It has brought together researchers, academics, practitioners, and students from across Africa, Europe, and North America to reflect on the preservation and promotion of African linguistic diversity in a rapidly changing world.

Created in 2003 to promote and strengthen the study of linguistics in the country, the Cameroon Association of Linguistics has waited over two decades to convene its inaugural international scientific conference. 

Themed: “Preserving and Promoting African Linguistic Diversity: Contemporary Challenges, Innovative Practices, and Theoretical Advances”, the gathering, aims to highlight both the threats and opportunities facing African languages today.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Head of the Department of Linguistics at the University of Douala, Prof Yvette Balana,  expressed deep gratitude to the authorities and partners who made the conference possible. 

She saluted the support of the Head of State, President Paul Biya, the Minister of Higher Education, Prof Jacques Fame Ndongo; the Rector of the University of Douala, Prof Magloire Ondoa, and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences, Prof René Assako.

She said the discipline of linguistics is not merely an academic pursuit but a cornerstone of humanity and identity. 

“We do not inhabit a country; we inhabit a language,” she declared, stressing the vital role of language in shaping human sociality and cultural belonging. She reminded participants that linguistics covers a wide range of domains. 

From phonology and syntax to computational linguistics and speech therapy, linguistics demonstrates its dynamic role in fields as diverse as artificial intelligence, health sciences, and education.

However, Prof Yvette Balana also used the platform to issue a plea for stronger institutional support. She stressed the urgent need for resources to strengthen training programmes in areas such as speech pathology, automatic language processing, and digital linguistics, which remain underdeveloped in Cameroon.

On her part, the President of the Cameroon Association of Linguistics, Prof Mbuh Mata, emphasised the importance of collective effort in addressing the challenges confronting African languages. 

She welcomed the diversity of participants, noting the presence of scholars from Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Europe, and North America. “This conference marks a significant milestone in our field,” she said.

“It provides a crucial platform for the exchange of ideas, the sharing of groundbreaking research, and the fostering of collaborative partnerships,” Prof Mbuh Mata, added.

She highlighted that the preservation of African languages is not only a cultural duty but also a scientific and developmental necessity. 

Over the next three days, participants are expected to engage in discussions and presentations on a broad range of topics, including language teaching and technology, colonial legacies in linguistics, multilingualism in education, language endangerment, and the role of Artificial Intelligence in linguistic research.

The participants who have come in their numbers, were encouraged to seize the opportunity to network, learn, and inspire one another.

Adding to her voice, the newly appointed Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of the University of Douala, Professor René Assako, who officially took office on September 4, 2025, described the conference as both an honour and a responsibility for the institution.

“Hosting this event here in Douala, a cosmopolitan city where local, national, and international languages coexist, offers a living laboratory for linguistic research,” he said, reminding the participants that the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences prides itself on being: “The reference of the humanities in Cameroon and Africa”.

It should be mentioned that studies have proven that languages are far more than tools of communication as they are also identities, memories, and heritage, carrying unique worldviews and philosophies. 

Unfortunately, many African languages face extinction due to lack of documentation, insufficient institutional support, and intergenerational transmission gaps. 

Therefore, safeguarding our languages is “to safeguard our collective history”, he noted.

Encouraging students and young researchers present, the dean described them as the “torchbearers of tomorrow” and urged them to actively engage with their senior colleagues, question established knowledge, and contribute to innovative solutions for the preservation of African linguistic heritage.

Professor Sénamin Amedegnato, from the University of Calgary in Western Canada, underscored the importance of the conference. 

“I've been working extensively on African languages and it's great to have a dialogue with fellow Africans who share similar concerns,” he said.

“This is an opportunity to exchange perspectives and discuss topics such as language policy. My work typically focuses on advocating for African leaders to reconsider language policies in favor of local languages. In this particular discussion, I'll be exploring the role of literature including playwrights, novelists, poets, and short story writers - in shaping language policy,” he added. 

With over two decades of existence, the Cameroon Association of Linguistics is now charting a new course for the discipline in the country and beyond. 

The association hopes that the inaugural conference will set the foundation for regular gatherings, sustained research collaborations, and policy influence in matters of language preservation.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3562 of Friday September 12, 2025