Some challenges of language documentation in African multilingual settings

This paper questions mainstream theoretical and methodological frameworks which underlie the work of language documentation (LD) in Africa. It further seeks to ask the question what is/should be the ultimate aim of LD, especially in inherently multilingual settings where language use is conceived more in terms of repertoires than clear cut language codes, and where each repertoire may trigger a different sense of belonging? Drawing from personal documentation experience in two multilingual communities of Cameroon, this research shows that, if not informed sociolinguistically, LD efforts may fail to address that which truly is at stake in the life of a multilingual speech community. The paper ends by suggesting that, in addition to being a reactive undertaking, LD should also encompass a pro-active component, one which does not only aim at rescuing an allegedly dying language, but also seeks to understand the power dynamics of language repertoires in critical multilingual settings of Arica.