Foreword

This Badwe'e-French dictionary is the product of Keith and Mary Beavon, linguists working with Badwe'e speakers in southern Cameroon since about 1985.

Catechist Samuel Mpiale was the first speaker who joined the Beavons in Lomie. Following that initial encounter, the Beavons moved to the home of Joseph Azabor in Bethanie (Cabeloun), in the northern part of the Badwe'e area. The Beavons are continuing their study of the Badwe'e lexicon with him and Samuel.

This lexicon is oriented to the needs of the speakers of the language, and serves as a basis to standardize the conventional spelling of words and phrases. While tone is not marked in the headwords of this dictionary, all entries include an alternate spelling that shows tone markings for non-speakers of the language. This is a work in progress which should benefit greatly from the coordinated effort of its speakers who can add the words which are missing. Ultimately, when the language has adapted to a new context and created new words, it can be brought up to date.