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Let's Speak Twi cover

Let's Speak Twi

A Proficiency Course in Akan Language and Culture

Adams Bodomo, Charles Marfo and Lauren Hall-Lew

Let's Speak Twi is an introductory textbook for those seeking proficiency in Akan/Twi, the most widely used and understood native language of Ghana. This book is a systematic introduction to Akan and Ghanaian culture through the language learning process. Included are exercises and activities that require active participation on the part of the learner. The book also serves as a useful companion for academics and others embarking on fieldtrips to Ghana and neighboring countries where Twi is spoken.

“We love to provide it to visitors and volunteers that are passing through as a beginning language guide.”
Autumn Buzzell, Director of Education, City Of Refuge Ministries, Ghana

Let's Speak Twi: A Proficiency Course in Akan Language and Culture is an excellent guide through Ghana's most widely spoken language. This book helps students of Twi develop awareness of social customs and cultural practices by combining historical, cultural, and social context with language training and grammar. The excellent and comprehensive dialogues, examples, and vocabulary provide students with a realistic picture of language use in Ghana and teach students Twi through modules that capture everyday Ghanaian life. For a language that has few materials available outside of the country, this new text is a valuable contribution to the literature.”
Jennifer Hart, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of African History at Wayne State University

Table of Contents and sample chapter (pdf)

Adams Bodomo is associate professor and chair, Department of Linguistics, at the School of Humanities, University of Hong Kong. He has taught at the University of Ghana, Stanford University, and Santa Clara University (California, USA). Charles Marfo is a lecturer in the Department of Modern Languages at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. Lauren Hall-Lew is Lecturer in Sociolinguistics at the University of Edinburgh and a former Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in English and Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics at the University of Oxford.

Contents

  • Introduction
  • 1 Greetings & Other Phatic Expressions – Ǹkyèá né Ǹsɛḿ Bí
  • 2 Twi Orthography – Twi Àtwèrɛ́
  • 3 Introducing Oneself – Òbí Réyí Nò Hò Ádíé
  • 4 Numerals – Ǹkóńtá / Àkòǹtàbúdéɛ́
  • 5 Telling Time: Days of the Week & Months of the Year – M̀mrɛ́ ká, Ǹná á ɛ́wɔ́ nàwɔ́wé mú, Àbòsómé á ɛ̀wɔ́ àfé mú
  • 6 Directions – Àkwàǹkyèrɛ́
  • 7 Family Relations – Àbùsùàbɔ́
  • 8 Types of Food: Meat, Vegetables & Fruits – Ǹnùàné: ɛ̀náḿ, Àtòsòdéɛ́ né Ǹnùàbá Áhóróɔ́ Bí
  • 9 At the Market – Wɔ̀ Dwáḿ / Èdwá só
  • 10 The Twi Colour Spectrum – Twi Àhósú Áhódóɔ́
  • 11 At School – Sùkúù Mú
  • 12 The Weather – Èwíéḿ Ńsèsàéɛ́
  • 13 At the Hospital – Wɔ̀ Àyàrèsábéá
  • 14 In the Drinking Bar – Wɔ̀ Ǹsàdwáásé
  • 15 Travelling: Twi for the Road – Àkwáńtúó: Twì à Èhíá wɔ̀ Kwáń mú
  • 16 Leisure time: Drumming and Dancing – Àhóyábérɛ́ / Àhòmègyébérɛ́: Twènèbɔ́ né Àsá
  • 17 At a Funeral – Wɔ̀ Àyíéásé
  • 18 Flora & Fauna – Àfifidéɛ̀ nè M̀móádómá
  • 19 Government & Politics – Àbáń né Àmàǹyɔ̀sɛ́m̀
  • 20 Law & Order – M̀mèrá né Ǹhyèhyɛ̀èɛ́
  • 21 Applications and interviews – Ǹhwèhwɛ̀èɛ́ né mú Ńsɛ̀m̀mìsá
  • Appendix A: Facts to note in pronunciation – Ǹnéɛ́má títìré bí áà ɛ̀wɔ́ kàsàé mú
  • Appendix B: Idiomatic and common expressions – Àkàsàkòá né dáádáá Ńsɛ̀m̀bìsá bí
  • Appendix C: Some essential euphemisms – Kàsàkòá áhódóɔ́ bí áà ɛ̀hó híá
  • Appendix D: Àdìǹkr̀á – Symbols of expressions in Akan
  • Appendix E: Word list (Akan-Twi to English) – ńsɛ̀m̀fùá bí
  • Appendix F: References / Resources for Learning Twi

January 2011

ISBN (Paperback): 9781575866048
ISBN (Electronic): 9781575866819

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