Ghanaian English

An example of Ghanaian English speaker (Felix Nartey).

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This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

Ghanaian English is a variety of English spoken in Ghana. English is the official language of Ghana, and is used as a lingua franca throughout the country.^[1] English remains the designated language for all official and formal purposes even as there are 11 indigenous government-sponsored languages used widely throughout the country.

Demographics

Of the more than 28 million people in Ghana, 67% of the population can read and write in English, and one-fifth is literate in English exclusively.^[1] Primary and secondary school classes at public schools, and schools that prepare for public certificates are taught in English only.^[2]

Phonology

Due to Ghana's colonial history, Ghanaian English most closely resembles British English, although it is decidedly varied and deviates from the standard in many ways based on location and context.

In contrast to the twelve monophthongal vowels of Received Pronunciation, Ghanaian English has only seven, an attribute shared with other forms of African English.^[3] Ghanaian English exhibits several mergers including the fleece–kit, foot–goose, and thought–cloth mergers.^[3]

In Ghanaian English, the voiceless alveolo-palatal sibilant [ɕ] is the usual realization of the phoneme /ʃ/ (as in "ship" and "Chicago"), the voiceless alveolo-palatal affricate [tɕ] is the usual realization of /tʃ/ (as in "cheese" and ""watching") and the voiced alveolo-palatal affricate [dʑ] is the usual realization of /dʒ/ (as in "general" and "magic").^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b Ghana Statistical Service (2012). 2010 Population & Housing Census: Summary Report of Final Results (PDF) (Report). Accra: Printed by Sakoa Press. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
^ "Educational System of Ghana". U.S. Embassy in Ghana. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
^ ^a ^b Schneider, Edgar Werner; Kortmann, Bernd, eds. (2004). A handbook of varieties of English : a multimedia reference tool. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. ISBN 3110175320. OCLC 56880203.
^ Huber (2004:859)

Huber, Magnus (2004), "Ghanaian English: phonology", in Schneider, Edgar W.; Burridge, Kate; Kortmann, Bernd; Mesthrie, Rajend; Upton, Clive (eds.), A handbook of varieties of English, vol. 1: Phonology, Mouton de Gruyter, pp. 842–865, ISBN 3-11-017532-0