Languages of Ghana explained

Ghana is a multilingual country in which about eighty languages are spoken.[1] Of these, English, which was inherited from the colonial era, is the official language and lingua franca.[2] [3] Of the languages indigenous to Ghana, Akan is the most widely spoken in the south. Dagbani, Dagare, Sisaala, Waale, and Gonja are among the most widely spoken in the northern part of the country.

Ghana has more than seventy ethnic groups, each with its own distinct language.[4] Languages that belong to the same ethnic group are usually mutually intelligible. The Dagbanli, Nanumba and Mamprusi languages of Northern Region, are almost the same and, are mutually intelligible with the Frafra and Waali languages of the Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana.[5] The Mole–Dagbani languages are spoken by more than 20% of the population.

Eleven languages have the status of government-sponsored languages: three Akan ethnic languages (Akuapem Twi, Asante Twi and Fante) and two Mole–Dagbani ethnic languages (Dagaare and Dagbanli). The others are Ewe, Dangme, Ga, Nzema, Gonja, and Kasem.

In April 2019, the Ghanaian government declared its intention to make French one of Ghana's official languages due to the country being surrounded by Francophone countries (Burkina Faso to a lesser extent, the Ivory Coast and Togo) and the presence of a French speaking minority in the country.[6] [7]

Government-sponsored languages

The number of government-sponsored languages is either eleven or nine, depending on whether or not Akuapem Twi, Asante Twi, and Fante are considered a single language. They are supported by the Bureau of Ghana Languages, which was established in 1951 and publishes materials in the languages; during the periods when Ghanaian languages were used in primary education, these were the languages which were used. All these languages belong to the Niger–Congo language family, though to several different branches.

Akan (Fante, Asante Twi and Akuapem Twi)

Akan, part of the Kwa branch of the Niger–Congo family, is a dialect continuum,[8] but with regard to official status, only a few out of the many varieties of Akan are recognised: Fante, Asante Twi, Akuapem Twi. Taken as a whole, Akan is the most-widely spoken language in Ghana.[9]

Ewe

Ewe is a Gbe language, part of the Volta–Niger branch of the Niger–Congo family. The Ewe Language is spoken in Ghana, Togo and Benin with a trace of the language in West Nigeria.[10] Out of the many dialects of Ewe spoken in Ghana, the major ones are Anlo, Tongu, Vedome, Gbi, and Krepi.

Dagbani

Dagbani is one of the Gur languages. It is the most spoken language in Northern Ghana. The number of native speakers numbers more than three million, This number will reach six million if dialects such as Nanumba, Mamprusi and Kamara are added. It belongs to the larger Mole–Dagbani ethnic group found in Ghana and makes up about 18.5% of the population.[11] It is spoken by Dagombas in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Dangme

Dangme is one of the Ga–Dangme languages within the Kwa branch. It is spoken in Greater Accra, in south-east Ghana and Togo.[12] Dangme is a West African Kwa language spoken in Ghana, and it has been gaining popularity among Ghana residents.

Dagaare

Dagaare is another of the Gur languages. It is spoken in the Upper West Region of Ghana. It is also spoken in Burkina Faso.[13] Waali, spoken by the Wala people, and the Dagaare language are languages that can be understood by each other's speakers.[14]

Ga

Ga is the other Ga–Dangme language within the Kwa branch. Ga is spoken in south-eastern Ghana, in and around the capital Accra. It is a Niger-Congo language in the Kwa branch, spoken by around 600,000 people in Ghana.[15] [16] Six separate towns comprised the Ga-speaking peoples: Accra, Osu, Labadi, Teshi, Nungua, and Tema. Each town had a central stool of importance in Ga traditions. Accra, among these towns, rose to prominence and now serves as Ghana's capital.

Nzema

Nzema is one of the Bia languages, closely related to Akan. It is spoken by the Nzema people in the Western Region of Ghana. It is also spoken in the Ivory Coast. Nzema, also known as Appolo, is mainly spoken in Ghana's Jomoro district and Ivory Coast's Comoé district. In 2004, it had around 330,000 speakers.[17] [18] The Nzema language utilizes a Latin-based script and comprises a total of twenty-four alphabetic characters.

Kasem

Kasem is a Gurunsi language, in the Gur branch. It is spoken in the Upper Eastern Region of Ghana. It is also spoken in Burkina Faso. By 1998, Kasem had around 250,000 speakers, divided between Ghana (130,000) and Burkina Faso (120,000). It's alternatively known as Kasena, Kasim, Kassem, Kasɩm, or Kassena.[19] [20]

Gonja

Gonja is one of the Guang languages, part of the Tano languages within the Kwa branch along with Akan and Bia. It is spoken in the Northern Region of Ghana and Wa. "Gonja" comes from "Kada Goro-Jaa" in Hausa, signifying "land of Red Cola." Ghana has over 285,000 Gonja people.[21]

Languages spoken in Ghana by number of speakers

This chart reflects data provided by Ethnologue.[22]

RankLanguageSpeakers
1English9,800,002
2Akan (Fante/Twi)9,100,000
3Ghanaian Pidgin English5,000,000
4Ewe Dialects of Ɛve include Aŋlo, Tɔŋu, Vɛdomɛ,Gbi, Krepi, among others)3,820,000
5Abron1,170,000
6Dagbani (including Mamprusi, and Nanumba dialects)6,160,000
7Dangme1,020,000
8Dagaare924,000
9Konkomba831,000
10Ga745,000
11Farefare638,000
12Kusaal535,000
13Mampruli414,000
14Gonja310,000
15Sehwi305,000
16Nzema299,000
17Wasa273,000
18Sisaala, Tumulung219,000
19Sisaala, Western219,000
20Bimoba176,000
21Ahanta175,000
22Ntcham169,000
23Buli168,000
24Bisa166,000
25Kasem149,000
26Tem134,000
27Cherepon132,000
28Birifor, Southern125,000
29Anufo91,300
30Wali84,800
31Larteh74,000
32Siwu71,900
33Chumburung69,000
34Anyin66,400
35Nafaanra61,000
36Krache58,000
37Lelemi48,900
38Deg42,900
39Paasaal36,000
40Kabre, (language kabre)35,642
41Avatime27,200
42Kulango, Bondoukou27,000
43Sekpele23,000
44Delo18,400
45Jwira-Pepesa18,000
46Gua17,600
47Tampulma16,000
48Kulango, Bouna15,500
49Ligbi15,000
50Nawuri14,000
51Vagla13,900
52Tuwuli11,400
53Selee11,300
54Adele11,000
55Nkonya11,000
56Gikyode10,400
57Dwang8,200
58Akposo7,500
59Logba7,500
60Nkami7,000
61Hanga6,800
62Nyangbo6,400
63Chakali6,000
64Ghanaian Sign Language6,000
65Safaliba5,000
66Tafi4,400
67Fulfulde, Maasina4,240
68Adangbe/Dangbe4,000
69Konni3,800
70Adamorobe Sign Language3,500
71Chala3,000
72Kamara3,000
73Kantosi2,300
74Kusuntu2,100
75Nchumbulu1,800
76Kplang1,600
77Dompo970
78Animere700
79FrenchUnclear
80HausaUnclear
81Lama1
82NawdmUnclear

Language classification

The language of Ghana belong to the following branches within the Niger–Congo language family:

Older classifications may instead group them as Kwa, Gur, and Mande.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.ethnologue.com/country/GH "Ghana," in: Lewis, M. Paul, Gary F. Simons, and Charles D. Fennig (eds.). 2014. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 17th ed.Murica Texas: SIL International.
  2. Web site: The Bureau Of Ghana Languages-BGL. Ghana Embassy Washington DC, USA. 2013. 11 November 2013.
  3. Book: A handbook of varieties of English. 1. Phonology, Volume 2. Oxford University Press . Bernd Kortmann Walter de Gruyter, 2004. 2004. 11 November 2013. 9783110175325 .
  4. Web site: Master Drummers of Dagbon, Volumes 1 and 2. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979. 8 December 2013. 1992. Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulai . John M. Chernoff .
  5. The Tribes of the Ashanti Hinterland" (1932). Journal of the Royal African Society. 30. 118. 40–57. Oxford University Press. R.S.Rattray Journal of the Royal African Society Vol. 30, No. 118 (Jan., 1931), pp. 40-57. 716938. 1931.
  6. Web site: Ghana's president wants to make French a formal language, but it's not a popular plan . 7 April 2019 .
  7. Web site: Ghana adopts French as its second official language . 21 March 2019 .
  8. Web site: The Online Encyclopaedia of Written Systems Languages. Omniglot. 2013. 11 November 2013.
  9. Web site: Introduction To The Verbal and Multi-Verbal system of Akan. ling.hf.ntnu.no. 2013. 16 November 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140407085659/http://www.ling.hf.ntnu.no/tross/osam.pdf. 7 April 2014.
  10. Web site: Verba Africana — Ewe background materials — The Ewe language. verbafricana.org. 2019-05-18.
  11. Web site: Ethnic Structure, Inequality and Governance of the Public Sector in Ghana . United Nations Research Institute For Social Development (UNRISD). Richard Asante & E.Gyimah-Boadi . 2004. 11 November 2013.
  12. Web site: Ndetei . Chris . 2019-09-23 . A look at the exciting facts of the Dangme language . 2023-08-17 . Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. . en.
  13. Web site: Dagaare language and alphabet . 2023-08-17 . omniglot.com.
  14. Web site: Upper West Region . 2023-08-17 . www.ghanaweb.com.
  15. Web site: Ga language, alphabet and pronunciation . 2023-08-17 . omniglot.com.
  16. Web site: Ga Ga People West African Tribe, Language & Culture Britannica . 2023-08-17 . www.britannica.com . en.
  17. Web site: Ndetei . Chris . 2019-09-30 . Fascinating facts about the Nzema community and useful phrases . 2023-08-19 . Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. . en.
  18. Web site: Nzema language, alphabet and pronunciation . 2023-08-19 . www.omniglot.com.
  19. Web site: Kasem to English dictionary . . 2023-08-19 . Lughayangu.
  20. Web site: Kasem language and alphabet . 2023-08-19 . omniglot.com.
  21. Web site: Ndetei . Chris . 2020-10-02 . Guan tribe: history, language, food, dance, festivals, facts . 2023-08-19 . Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. . en.
  22. Web site: Ghana. Ethnologue. en. 2019-08-04.