In this study, the linguistic landscape of Kejetia, an indigenous lorry terminal and market place in Kumasi in the Ashanti region. Multifarious media of communication ongoing on the principal streets of Ghana are inscriptions on vehicles; where owners and drivers of, mostly commercial vehicles express their beliefs and experiences on their vehicles. The information is also free of charge; what is required is for one to be well-educated in the language in which the inscription is carried. The paper does not consider everything under the linguistic landscape of area. It only looks at the signage seen on vehicles in the various commercial lorry stations in lorry terminal of Kejetia. All of the text found on the vehicles were snapped and considered. The results showed that the Twi was very frequent used on the vehicles, followed by the English language, and few others appeared infrequently. It also appeared that, the use of paints for signaging has faded out as no vehicle was capture with that.
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Literature review
3.0 Objectives
4.0 Methodology
4.1 Data Collection and Sampling
4.2 Categories and Classification
3.3 ANSWER TO THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Objectives and Research Themes
This study aims to explore the linguistic landscape of Kejetia by analyzing the inscriptions found on commercial and private vehicles within the lorry terminals, examining how these media serve as a form of communication for drivers and owners.
- Analysis of language distribution (Twi, English, and others) on vehicle signage.
- Examination of the materials used for inscriptions (stickers versus traditional paint).
- Identification of preferred color schemes for signage and the underlying reasons.
- Investigation into the influence of sociocultural and economic factors on vehicle inscriptions.
- Documentation of the transition from hand-painted messages to modern, removable stickers.
Excerpts from the Book
1.0 Introduction
Inscriptions are a common sight in Ghana and can be found on firms either stores or bars and vehicles amongst a host of other individual possessions. The vehicle medium is perhaps the most captivating considering its higher chances at public relations. Nevertheless this media of communiqué may not be technologically innovative in the present era of globalization, its influences are awesome as it continues to increase and affect the people around.
The study of the linguistic landscape is a fairly recent phenomenon that started after the independence. According Owusu (2010), , it became common and easy for Ghanaians to own their own cars, buses and lorries after independence because the days of driving for the colonial master were over and Ghanaians were full of optimism for the future. Inscriptions like, "Ehan bi apue" (A light has appeared), "Fathia fata Nkrumah" (Fathia fits Nkrumah which also was the name of a popular cloth), G.H.A.N.A (God Has Appointed Nkrumah Already) were dominant on most of the buses and Lorries.
The inscriptions on the vehicle began to change after the overthrow of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Many profane words were pounded on him through the vehicle inscriptions. Such writings include; "Nkrumah kwaseampani, danduruwaka sheege." (Nkrumah, a fool and a bastard. His mum's stinking ass-hole), "Fathia, kɔ wo kurom" (Fathia go to your country). The trend changed after the 1966 coup. The hardships, bribery, corruption and unhealthy experience the Ghanaians faced called for that. This was the PNDC era. Many Ghanaians began to turn to God to provide for their needs when the going became tough. This manifested on their vehicle inscriptions. They include, "Awurade hu yɛn mmɔbɔ" (Lord have mercy on us), "Aka m'ani" (I am in trouble), "God is King", "The road to Jesus". This continued to our era.
Summary of Chapters
1.0 Introduction: This chapter introduces the phenomenon of vehicle inscriptions in Ghana and traces the historical evolution of these messages from the post-independence era to the present day.
2.0 Literature review: This section covers the theoretical background of 'inscriptions' and linguistic landscapes, citing foundational research on how such signs reflect identity and group affiliation.
3.0 Objectives: The chapter clearly states the central research questions regarding language presence, material usage, and color preferences on vehicles in Kejetia.
4.0 Methodology: This section details the data collection process, explaining the purposeful sampling of vehicles and the classification criteria used for the study.
3.3 ANSWER TO THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS: This chapter synthesizes the gathered data to provide direct answers to the previously posed research questions based on the quantitative findings.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: The final section summarizes the main findings, specifically the dominance of the Twi language and the decline of traditional paint in favor of modern stickers.
Keywords
Kejetia, Kumasi, Signage, Inscriptions, Twi, English, Vehicle, Stickers, Paint, Linguistic Landscape, Identity, Communication, Lorry terminal, Public relations, Cultural expression.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The work focuses on the linguistic landscape of Kejetia, specifically examining how drivers and vehicle owners use their vehicles as a medium for communication through various inscriptions.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the choice of languages used in signs, the shift in materials (stickers vs. paint), and the aesthetic and functional preferences, such as color choice, in a commercial transport context.
What is the main objective of this study?
The primary goal is to investigate which languages are present, how these messages are displayed, and why specific colors and materials are preferred by the vehicle owners in the Kejetia market.
Which methodology was employed for this research?
The author utilized a quantitative analysis of 56 vehicle inscriptions, combined with interviews conducted with drivers and station masters to provide context for the observed data.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body covers a literature review on linguistic landscapes, the systematic collection and categorization of data from the Kejetia lorry terminals, and a detailed analysis of findings related to language and material usage.
What are the key terms defining this study?
The study is characterized by keywords such as linguistic landscape, inscriptions, Kejetia, vehicle communication, and cultural identity.
Why are Twi and English the most prevalent languages found on the vehicles?
As the primary languages of communication in the region, they serve as the most effective tools for reaching the target audience—the passengers and other members of the public.
Why is there a clear transition from paint to stickers?
Drivers noted that paint is more expensive, consumes more time to apply, and can damage the vehicle's body, whereas stickers are cheaper, removable, and allow for quicker updates to the vehicle's aesthetic.
- Quote paper
- Solomon Owusu Amoh (Author), 2018, Linguistic landscape in the Ashanti Region. The case of Kejetia lorry terminals, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/508620
