The Cooperative Principle in Women Groups’ Interactions of Anglophone Cameroon

Abstract

The present study set out to explore the conversational rules in events of women associations from the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon in order to reveal the communication ethos and interaction patterns inherent in women groups’ dynamics. The study adopted the collective case design to explore the conversational maxims observed and flouted in two categories of women associations- development-based associations, which comprised One Hand Cannot Tie a Bundle (OHCTB), Cameroon Gatsby Foundation (CGF) and Biwon Self Reliance Farmers and Traders’ Union (BSRFTU), and faith-based associations, comprising Catholic Women’s Association (CWA) and Christian Women Fellowship (CWF). Through random and purposeful sampling techniques and with non-participant observation, unstructured-open-ended interviews and audio recordings, 24 group events were analysed through the latent content analysis. The findings reveal that during events, members of these women's associations adhered more to the maxims of the cooperative principle. Out of a total of 4,257 communicative acts, 4,205 of them were in adherence to one or all of the four maxims, a total percentage of 95.1 adherence as opposed to 4.9% flouting. Of these four maxims, the maxim of relation was the most adhered to (98.8% adherence and 1.2% flouting) and that of manner, was the least adhered to (91% adherence and 9% flouting).   A majority of these adherences were done during attempted answer processes while those of flouting took place during negative reaction expressions. These findings reveal that when expressing negative reactions such as threats, criticisms, frustration and anger, members of women's Associations from the Anglophone Cameroon do them indirectly so as to avoid face-threatening one another during meetings. As far as the two categories of associations are concerned, the findings equally reveal that maxims adherence occurred more in faith-based associations than in development-based associations; 96.2% as opposed to 92.6% respectively. This high rate of maxims adherence mirrors solidarity, cooperation, connection, support, closeness and understanding and further supports the argument that communication for women is a primary way to establish and maintain relationships with one another.