This paper aims to answer the following questions: What is the nature of Ghanaian English as a regional dialect? And how is Ghanaian English different from British English?
"The Dynamic Model of the evolution of New Englishes" by Schnelder categorises Ghanaian English within the Outer Circle variety spoken in Britain’s former Gold Coast colony in West Africa. It concludes the debate of whether there is what is called Ghanaian English at all, citing other varieties in different part of the world as a backing. This work examines the extent to which Ghanaian English is truly Ghanaian, its uniqueness that characterizes it as a variety of English in terms of pronunciation, register and syntax.
Statement of the Problem. Scholars and educated elites who have passed through the English medium education sometimes argue over the type of English spoken in Ghana as ungrammatical. Because of that it is not easy to condemn or criticize Ghanaian English as bad or wrong since it has moved far away from the colonial English that gave birth to it. Others even think it should not be considered English.
The main aim of this study is to examine the extend of growth and deviation of GhE away from its origin in terms of register, semantics, phonetics among others. It also aims at finding out if in the midst of this variation, it could be considered English at all. In other words, it identifies the concept and characteristic of language variety, in this case, variety of English.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Statement of the Problem
3. Research Questions
4. Purpose of study
5. English in Ghana
6. Characteristics of Ghanaian English
7. Some examples of Ghanaian English
8. Conclusions
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This study aims to analyze the evolution and specific linguistic deviations of Ghanaian English (GhE) from its colonial origin. It explores whether this regional variety, shaped by unique sociolinguistic factors, phonetics, and syntax, establishes itself as a distinct and recognized form of English within the "Outer Circle" of New Englishes.
- Evolution of Ghanaian English as a regional dialect.
- Sociolinguistic influence of native languages on English usage.
- Phonetic, register, and syntactic variation from British English.
- Identification of distinct characteristics that define GhE.
- The role of the "Dynamic Model of the evolution of New Englishes" in categorizing GhE.
Excerpt from the Book
English in Ghana
English is the official language of Ghana since 1632, Huber (1999). English merchants had been regularly trading on the Gold Coast, as Ghana was known. Formal colonization started in 1844 and independence was gained in 1957. In his Dynamic Model of the evolution of New Englishes, Schneider (2003) proposes that to a considerable extent the histories of New Englishes can be viewed as processes of convergence between two groups, the colonizers and the colonized. After independence, the foreigners in Ghana fell according to the Population and Census of Ghana, (1964). English speaking fell on the natives of the land.
A look at the speakers of English in Ghana reveals the educated elite who use it almost every day at workplaces, with care, accuracy and near- perfect to British English. Then, there is the middle class group who can speak it with fairly accurate yet with some errors because of their low level of education, Then again, there is the third group, those whose English is so scanty they have to supplement it with self-manufactured words, terms, pronunciation and syntax. These people also speak Pidgin English, Schneider (2003).
As social animals, the influence of one group upon the other is unavoidable that, even the elite’s English could be dictated by the uneducated English speaker. Moreso is the influence of the speaker’s native language. Hence, the Twi speaker’s English cannot ne matched on equall grounds with the Dagbani, Fante or other ethnic groups in Ghana. The variety therefore occurs as regional, as one moves from one area to another, in the country. Hence, there exist Fante English, Twi English and so on.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides a theoretical foundation using Schneider’s model to categorize Ghanaian English within the global framework of New Englishes.
Statement of the Problem: Addresses the academic and social tensions regarding the perception of Ghanaian English as either "ungrammatical" or a legitimate evolving variety.
Research Questions: Defines the core inquiry into the nature of Ghanaian English and its differentiation from British English.
Purpose of study: Outlines the goal of identifying how register, semantics, and phonetics have deviated from colonial origins.
English in Ghana: Discusses the historical context of English usage in Ghana and the sociolinguistic stratification of its speakers.
Characteristics of Ghanaian English: Explores the linguistic transformation process and specific regional pronunciations, including influences from local languages.
Some examples of Ghanaian English: Presents a list of colloquial idioms and phrases that exemplify the unique character and humorous nuances of the variety.
Conclusions: Summarizes findings that confirm the distinctiveness of Ghanaian English and the ongoing nature of its linguistic evolution.
Keywords
Ghanaian English, New Englishes, Dialect, Sociolinguistics, Phonetics, Syntax, Register, Outer Circle, Colonialism, Language Evolution, Pidgin English, Cultural Identity, Linguistic Variation, Schneider’s Dynamic Model, West Africa.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work examines the evolution and distinctive characteristics of Ghanaian English as a legitimate regional dialect within the framework of global English varieties.
What are the central themes of the research?
The core themes include the historical impact of colonization, the sociolinguistic influence of local ethnic languages (such as Twi or Fante) on English, and the structural deviation from British English.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine the extent to which Ghanaian English has developed its own identity in terms of pronunciation, syntax, and semantics, and whether it qualifies as a distinct variety of English.
Which scientific model provides the framework for this study?
The study utilizes E.W. Schneider’s "Dynamic Model of the evolution of New Englishes" (2003, 2007) to categorize and analyze the development of the variety.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It provides a historical overview of English in Ghana, examines speaker categorization, discusses phonetic and linguistic characteristics, and analyzes real-world examples of Ghanaian idiomatic expressions.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Key terms include Ghanaian English, sociolinguistics, dialect, language evolution, phonetics, and Schneider’s model.
How does the author categorize the speakers of English in Ghana?
The author distinguishes between three groups: the educated elite who maintain near-perfect British English, the middle class with some educational influence and errors, and a third group who rely on Pidgin or self-manufactured vocabulary.
What role does the native language play in Ghanaian English?
Native languages exert significant pressure on how English is spoken, leading to sub-regional varieties like "Twi English" or "Fante English," resulting in distinct regional accents and syntactic choices.
What is the significance of the provided examples like "Dash me some"?
These examples illustrate how Ghanaian English has developed unique idioms and phrasings that reflect local cultural instincts and social interactions, separating them from standard British usage.
- Citar trabajo
- Seth Nretia Essien (Autor), 2023, Examining Ghanaian English as a Regional Dialect, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1361354
