English is the official language in Ghana, as it is in additional than sixty nations around the world that ended up when British Colonies or dependences. Most Ghanaians are fluent in English but they also converse 1 of the sixty or so vernaculars and this has flavoured their English to make it distinctively their personal and attribute of their abundant tradition. The seasoning of common English has come about in several strategies: by way of troubles with pronunciation, immediate translation of pet phrases from vernaculars, and retaining words and phrases from vernaculars that have no exact English equal or for which there is significantly respect or affection. There are also, inevitably, some mongrel phrases that are produced up with each English and vernacular words and phrases.
Most Ghanaians, it need to be said, have number of problems in announcing English words and phrases. The most prevalent trouble fears words and phrases working with the letter ‘l,’ and from this has grown up the rendering of ‘police’ as ‘proci’ and ‘school’ as ‘sucuu.’ Some individuals also have issues with words like ‘crisps’ with a few consecutive consonants and the ‘th’ audio in English offers its common issues. In the earlier, difficulties of pronunciation most likely contributed to the development of Pidgin English but true Pidgin is almost never heard in contemporary Ghana besides amongst some significantly less educated men and women from the northern tribes. Seldom is read the distinct language that translated God’s question to Adam in the Biblical E book of Genesis as, ‘Hoo dun chop dem mangoes?’
Ghanaians have a couple of pet phrases that they translate into English instantly from a vernacular. Potentially the most prevalent of these is, ‘I’m telling you,’ utilized when a indigenous English speaker would almost certainly say, ‘You’re telling me!’ A different example of this phenomenon is, ‘Only your… ‘ made use of in expressing admiration these as in, ‘Only your hair!’ reported to a good friend with a new hair fashion. Questions about welfare, such as, ‘How are you?’ when posed in the vernacular are generally answered with the preface, ‘By God’s grace,’ and this is often carried around into English, as is the response to the positive reply that one is very well, ‘We thank God.’
English is a flexible language with lots of alternative ways of indicating the same matter. Consequently, for illustration, one particular might say, ‘I have a agony in my leg,’ or, ‘My leg hurts,’ but quite a few Ghanaians would say, ‘My leg pains me.’ Similarly, ‘Brush your teeth,’ or ‘Clean your teeth,’ results in being ‘Paste your enamel.’ Then there are a couple preferred phrases that are applied extra commonly than in regular English: a ‘golf course’ is often referred to as a ‘golf park,’ most dishonest persons are referred to as ‘crooks’ and a very educated man or woman could be explained as ‘book-prolonged.’
Ghanaians use a couple text from their vernaculars that have no actual translation into English. The most commonly utilized is ‘Nana,’ a title of regard, roughly equal to ‘Sir’ but used to the two genders. Chiefs in Ghana preface their names with ‘Nana’ in the same way as chiefs in Nigeria use the English, ‘Chief.’ When referring to the casual economic climate or black sector Ghanaians use the term, ‘Kalebule,’ said to be derived from the Hausa, ‘Kere kabure,’ or ‘Keep it silent.’ Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s initially Primary Minister and President was referred to by his supporters as, ‘Osagyefo,’ or, ‘Saviour,’ and the King of Ashanti is referred to as the, ‘Asantehene’ or ‘Otumfuo,’ the effective a person.
Purists frown on the inclination in Ghana, as in other places, to combine languages into a new mongrel tongue but it is a tendency among young persons all over the place to invent their individual manner of conversation. Mixing languages is inescapable when it requires introducing new principles and many English names have to be adopted for previously mysterious complex improvements from telephone to internet. Having said that, the mixing of languages usually goes further than this requirement to create such hybrids as:
English: ‘What time will we get started?’
Twi: ‘Bere ben na yebe fiti ase?’
Hybrid: ‘Time ben yebe starte?’
Most Ghanaians aspire to talk typical English that permits them to communicate properly in the international sphere, and in this respect the previous Secretary Basic of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, is a perfect illustration and purpose model. At the same time Ghanaians take a great deal delight in their prosperous cultural heritage which is deserving of careful preservation and advancement. It may be hoped that the two aspirations can be absolutely realised, untainted by the efforts of some to produce an unneeded new from two treasured olds.