Highlighting the Pragmatic Deviations in the Speech of Paranoid Schizophrenic Patients in Cameroon

Abstract

This study sought to bring to the limelight some Pragmatic deviations in the speech of some Paranoid Schizophrenic patients in Cameroon. In this study, paranoid schizophrenia was to be examined from an African perspective in general and from a Cameroonian perspective in particular. Therefore, the goal of the study was to document the various pragmatic errors that patients made in their actual speech and thought processes. The study was carried out on 09 patients in the Jamot hospital, situated at the Mballa II neighbourhood in the Centre Region of Cameroon (Yaoundé). The hospital has a Psychiatric unit that receives patients from all over the country; it was the best place to conduct the study because it allowed us to work with patients from almost every region of the country. Data was gathered through interviews and active observation.The quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyse the data. This study showed that individuals with schizophrenia actually experience traits like mental content and genuine linguistic or communication difficulties. Despite the difficulties these patients experience, with the right care and support, they can be reintegrated into society and resume their normal lives. We recommend for the training and placement of linguists in hospitals to collaborate with medical staff. This will help with language disorder diagnosis.