Encoding Environmental Information into Linguistic Forms: A Study of Medicinal Plant Names in Mankon and Moghamo Languages of Cameroon

Abstract:

This paper investigates the world views that underpin the naming of medicinal plants in Mankon and Moghamo, both Bamenda Grassfields languages of Cameroon. It investigates how environmental information is encoded in the linguistic forms used to name medicinal plants in Mankon and Moghamo, two Grassfields Bantu languages spoken in Cameroon. The study focuses on the relationship between plant nomenclature, morphological structure, semantic interpretation and the speakers’ knowledge of their natural environment. This ethnographic study, exploits the qualitative data collection method; the ethnobotanical transects walks and focus group discussions. The tools exploited in collecting the data were a tape recorder, video camera, a note book and pen. The research identified that, the names of medicinal plants in Mankon and Moghamo are either derived from the morphology of the plant, function or medicinal application, natural quality and attributes, potency, origin, color or smell of the plant. The analysis identified six major naming patterns. Out of the 17 medicinal plants collected and analysed, 3 (17.65 %) were named according to morphology or shape ,5 (29.41 %) were named according to function and utility, 3 (17.65%) were named according to natural attributes, 1(5.88%) named according to potency/origin, 2 (11.76%), named according to color or smell and 3(17.65%) were borrowed names. These categorization account for 100 % of the plants documented. It is attested that, plant names in particular, and other naming practices can never be detached or void of its sociocultural context, whereby images are drawn from the environment. By documenting these plant names, the contribution of this study in language revitalisation can never be underestimated. The study argues that, the medicinal plant lexicon of Mankon and Moghamo constitutes an important repository of environmental knowledge.