Impoliteness and face: the pragmatics of insulting in Cameroon Pidgin English

In a multilingual and multiethnic community like Cameroon, language behavior demonstrates a multitude of patterns. During interactions, language either creates or fosters human relations or jeopardizes them. This chapter deals with verbal insults and the act of insulting in Cameroon pidgin English. Insults were culture-specific and cut across sociological variables such as time, space, age, status and sex. Their use demonstrated several shades when considered in different contexts. From the sociolinguistic perspective, verbal insults provide some interesting insights about linguistic diversity and cultural identity.