body-container-line-1
14.12.2011 Opinion

THE STANDARD AKAN LANGUAGE

By Douglas Tawiah
THE STANDARD AKAN LANGUAGE
14.12.2011 LISTEN

I write to inform you that I have taken it upon myself to champion the birth of what I call the STANDARD AKAN LANGUAGE.

Many times it has been said that Akan is the most widely spoke language in Ghana. Many even add that it is spoken in some parts of the Ivory Coast. The sad issue is that nobody has made any endeavor to solve the vocabulary deficit of the language. We are only interested in gloating and boasting about it when in fact that doesn't contribute anything to make Ghana a better place. When Swahili became a lingua franca in some parts of southern Africa, it has enjoyed some development. I therefore ask all and sundry to help contribute so that one day we will save the academicians a hectic work of finding a standard form of the language. It has been the dreams of millions of Ghanaians, both Akans and non- Akans to see the Akan language join the national languages but none of those who suggest this make an effort to start the process. We normally say the scholars will do that. But the question is 'who are the scholars?', and don't you believe that you're also a scholar?

The name 'STANDARD AKAN LANGUAGE' is quite illusive because the language I suggest is not 100% Akan just as the English language is not 100% English but has borrowed extensively from other languages.

The STANDARD AKAN LANGUAGE is a combination of the three formally studied Akan languages which are Fante, Akuapim Twi and Asante Twi. I must emphasize that the language is also widely open to other languages such as Ga, Ewe, Hausa and even English words to some extent.

The Asante Twi is often regarded as the basis of all the Akan languages. It appears very 'raw' when compared to the other Akan languages such as Fante, Bono, and even Akuapim. I'm not a linguist but I think it is due to its nature that it almost always turns out to be that non-native Akans who are familiar with any Akan language speaks the Asante Twi. The intonation of the STANDARD AKAN LANGUAE is the Asante Twi. However, the STANDARD AKAN LANGUAGE borrows a wide range of vocabulary from both the Akuapim Twi and Fante. For instance, for a word like 'two', the Twi speakers say 'mmienu' while the fantes say 'abien'. Both are accepted in the Standard Akan or Twi language. Another example is 'Dog' which Twi speakers say 'kraman', Fantes say 'bcdcm'. All are accepted.

As said earlier on, other non-Akan words which are in common use everyday or which may help to carry along specific information will be employed. Majority of these will come from the Ga and Ewe which rank behind the Akan language in terms of their number of speakers. Please, help let us build this language together. It shouldn't be only native Akans but all Ghanaians. Please visit the website I have created for the STANDARD AKAN LANGUAGE. Visit and read more on what I mean by this; and some of the words I have suggested to be part of the language.

Please, try to send your 'newly-coined word' to me on [email protected] or search for my facebook page using the said email or my username: Nana Dwumor. On facebook, either write the word to me as a message or you may want to write it on my wall. Whichever way, it will be welcomed.

It is however convenient to write it to me as a mail even on facebook as it is expected of you to explain how you coined such a word and this may not be possible on a wall because walls do not allow many characters.

I am also looking for people who will openly want to see this dream realized to write to me or 'halla' me on facebook so that they start to take active participation in it. Please, let the students and graduates of linguistics get on board to put our delicate steps in check. Thank You.

body-container-line