Ethnolects of Cameroon English

From an integrative perspective this study analyses the evolution of ethnolinguistic variability in Cameroon English (CamE) pronunciation along the educational echelon. Focus is on the phonetic/phonological variables of ethnolects distinctive from Received Pronunciation and CamE, and markers which prompt attitudinal reactions in speakers and listeners’ perceptions. Interviews are conducted and a questionnaire designed to elicit pronunciation and attitudinal variability. Integrative methods are explored to analyse the data, and the «trace element hypothesis» postulated. As contribution to studies on the evolution in the New Englishes it proposes the lectal continuum and fossilised CamE features as yard sticks for mainstreaming CamE phonology and advocates sociophonetics in language teaching.