Search R&P Entries
Wornyo, A. A. (2015). English Lingua Franca (ELF) as a Means of Communication among Construction Workers in Ghana. In Editor in Chief : Taher Bahrani . Malaysia: International Journal of Language Learning and Applied Linguistics World.
Abstract
Abstract
In countries that English is spoken as a second language, it is mainly learnt in the classroom as a school subject. However, individuals who have not had formal education can acquire and use English in informal settings outside the classroom. This study explores the various social contact situations and instances that motivate or make it necessary for construction workers to acquire and use English at the construction site. It also seeks to discover the communicative strategies employed by the construction workers to communicate. Using observations and interviews, it was discovered that some construction workers acquire and use English through their interaction with workers they do not share the same Ghanaian language with. The findings of the study show the reality of the global use of English as a language for communication beyond academic and official circles. The study concludes that though the English acquired and used among the construction workers is not the Standard English spoken by educated Ghanaians, it enables them to communicate to get their work done at the construction site.
Key words: construction workers, social interaction, communicative strategies
DOGBEY, E. & SANORTEY, T. D.
FACULTY SEMINAR. AJUMAKO APRIL 27, 2016
Paper presented:
THE SOCIO-CULTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE FUNCTIONS OF SALIVA AMONG THE EWE AND THE BIRIFOR
Abstract
Studies on body fluids secretions are receiving ever increasing attention, especially in the medical field, as compared to the cultural and linguistic field. These secretions are christened; body waste, by-products, among the lot and are always associated with infections and homes for contagious pathogens. Nevertheless, a vast array of benefits are derived from all body excretes across cultures. This paper delved into saliva, one of such secreted body fluids; exploring its sociolinguistic and cultural functions among the Ewes in the Volta Region and the Birifor in the Upper West and Northern Regions of Ghana. Saliva is the commonest and easily accessible body fluid and much of it is usually swallowed when secreted. Data for this naturalistic study is elicited by opinion pool and analyzed descriptively. The findings are interpreted in a logical narrative form, revealing four types of saliva with each performing different functions beyond the basic roles of facilitating swallowing and moistening or softening food items in fauna. The study claims that the usage of saliva has varied psychological and physiological implications backing their linguistic and cultural functions among the Ewe and the Birifor. The Ewe and the Birifor use saliva for curing, cursing, insulting, blessing among others but in a variety of ways. In addition, the secretion, spitting and swallowing of saliva is a form of communication. Saliva swallowing portrays good intentions and spitting bad intentions. Saliva usage occurs in the proverbs, idioms and other linguistic constructions of the people. The paper concludes that the live of a people revolves around saliva usages for cultural and linguistic purposes.
Studies on body fluids secretions are receiving ever increasing attention, especially in the medical field, as compared to the cultural and linguistic field. These secretions are christened; body waste, by-products, among the lot and are always associated with infections and homes for contagious pathogens. Nevertheless, a vast array of benefits are derived from all body excretes across cultures. This paper delved into saliva, one of such secreted body fluids; exploring its sociolinguistic and cultural functions among the Ewes in the Volta Region and the Birifor in the Upper West and Northern Regions of Ghana. Saliva is the commonest and easily accessible body fluid and much of it is usually swallowed when secreted. Data for this naturalistic study is elicited by opinion pool and analyzed descriptively. The findings are interpreted in a logical narrative form, revealing four types of saliva with each performing different functions beyond the basic roles of facilitating swallowing and moistening or softening food items in fauna. The study claims that the usage of saliva has varied psychological and physiological implications backing their linguistic and cultural functions among the Ewe and the Birifor. The Ewe and the Birifor use saliva for curing, cursing, insulting, blessing among others but in a variety of ways. In addition, the secretion, spitting and swallowing of saliva is a form of communication. Saliva swallowing portrays good intentions and spitting bad intentions. Saliva usage occurs in the proverbs, idioms and other linguistic constructions of the people. The paper concludes that the live of a people revolves around saliva usages for cultural and linguistic purposes.
Sanortey, T.D.
Language in the Midst:Theories and Practice. KNUST-Kumasi, Ghana 27th-29th July, 2015
Paper presented:
A Thematic analysis of Birifor Festival Songs
Abstract
Abstract This study is an attempt to examine the major themes in some Birifor festivals songs which are sang mainly during the celebration of the festivals. Birifor is an anglicized form of Bιrιfυɔr, an ethnic group located in Northern Ghana, and some parts of neighbouring Burkina-Faso and La Côte d’Ivoire. Bιrιfυɔr is a dialect of Dagaare, which belongs to the Gur language group. It refers to the speakers and the language as well. Birifor festivals songs to the best of this researcher’s knowledge, have attracted little attention in the linguistic literature. The analysis is purely descriptive with focus on the themes. Data is collected from native speakers who have in-depth knowledge about the festivals songs. Purposive sampling of five songs were chosen out of ten recorded songs from three Birifor communities in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region for the analysis. The researcher was a participant observer throughout the festivals’ nights and days. The aim was also to assuage suspicion and enhance rapport among the lead singers, neophytes, celebrants and the community members. The findings reveal that a catchy theme attracts a lot of the festival’s gifts from the audience and the main celebrant. The themes are also centered on hard work, hope, caution and lamentation.
Abstract This study is an attempt to examine the major themes in some Birifor festivals songs which are sang mainly during the celebration of the festivals. Birifor is an anglicized form of Bιrιfυɔr, an ethnic group located in Northern Ghana, and some parts of neighbouring Burkina-Faso and La Côte d’Ivoire. Bιrιfυɔr is a dialect of Dagaare, which belongs to the Gur language group. It refers to the speakers and the language as well. Birifor festivals songs to the best of this researcher’s knowledge, have attracted little attention in the linguistic literature. The analysis is purely descriptive with focus on the themes. Data is collected from native speakers who have in-depth knowledge about the festivals songs. Purposive sampling of five songs were chosen out of ten recorded songs from three Birifor communities in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region for the analysis. The researcher was a participant observer throughout the festivals’ nights and days. The aim was also to assuage suspicion and enhance rapport among the lead singers, neophytes, celebrants and the community members. The findings reveal that a catchy theme attracts a lot of the festival’s gifts from the audience and the main celebrant. The themes are also centered on hard work, hope, caution and lamentation.
Adjei, A. A., & Ewusi-Mensah, L. (2016). Transitivity in Kuffuor's 2008 Farewell Speech to the Ghanaian Parliament. British Journal of English Langage Linguistics, 4,
Abstract
This study uses Halliday’s transitivity theory to analyse the use of language in President J. A. Kufuor’s farewell address to Parliament. The study uses the content analysis design to analyse all the clauses in the address. The study reveals that among the six process types under the transitivity model, the material processes are used maximally in the speech whereas the existential processes are used minimally. There was, however, no behavioural process in the address. The dominant use of material clauses suggest that Kufuor interprets the world in terms of his past and present “goings-on” happenings by recounting some of the concrete achievements recorded under his eight-year stewardship and making useful suggestions to the incoming government in order to ensure continuity in projects his administration has initiated. His choice of actors suggests that Kufuor attributes the achievements to himself which may be perceived as a feature of undemocratic leadership style; however his determination to share his wealth of experience with the incoming government corrects the impression that he is undemocratic. He also uses a majority of relational identifications to point out to himself and his administration as the main development players. Verbal processes have been used as markers of transition and topic shift; still, he refers to himself as the main sayer. The study concludes and affirms that material, relational and mental processes are the three primary processes often used in language since the three add up to about 90% (Halliday&Matthiessen, 2004). Keywords: John Agyekum Kufuor, Ghana, Systemic Functional Grammar, Transitivity, Farewell Address, Parliament, Political Ideologies.
This study uses Halliday’s transitivity theory to analyse the use of language in President J. A. Kufuor’s farewell address to Parliament. The study uses the content analysis design to analyse all the clauses in the address. The study reveals that among the six process types under the transitivity model, the material processes are used maximally in the speech whereas the existential processes are used minimally. There was, however, no behavioural process in the address. The dominant use of material clauses suggest that Kufuor interprets the world in terms of his past and present “goings-on” happenings by recounting some of the concrete achievements recorded under his eight-year stewardship and making useful suggestions to the incoming government in order to ensure continuity in projects his administration has initiated. His choice of actors suggests that Kufuor attributes the achievements to himself which may be perceived as a feature of undemocratic leadership style; however his determination to share his wealth of experience with the incoming government corrects the impression that he is undemocratic. He also uses a majority of relational identifications to point out to himself and his administration as the main development players. Verbal processes have been used as markers of transition and topic shift; still, he refers to himself as the main sayer. The study concludes and affirms that material, relational and mental processes are the three primary processes often used in language since the three add up to about 90% (Halliday&Matthiessen, 2004). Keywords: John Agyekum Kufuor, Ghana, Systemic Functional Grammar, Transitivity, Farewell Address, Parliament, Political Ideologies.
Adjei, A. A., Ewusi-Mensah, L. & Okoh, H. (2015). Transitivity in Political Discourse - A Study of the Major Process Types in the 2009 State-of-the-Nation-Address in Ghana.. Journal of Literature, Languages and Linguistics., 16,
Abstract
Abstract The study uses the transitivity model to analyze how President John Evans Attah Mills manipulates language in his first State-of-the-Nation address to express his political message to his people. The study is premised on Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar, and the qualitative research design was used for the content analysis of the text. The study applies the interpretative content analysis to investigate the communicative functions of the linguistic choices made in the address. 536 clauses in the State-of-the-Nation address were used for analysis. The clauses were parsed into their constituent parts, the processes were identified, coded and categorized and their roles determined. The study discovered that among the major process types, material processes dominate the speech with a total occurrence of 59.14% whereas the mental process types are used minimally in the speech with a total occurrence of 14.37%. The dominant use of material processes implies that Mills and his government are the main actors working on a number of concrete projects in an attempt to create a sense of developmental progression and continuity. The minimal use of the mental processes also implies that Mills gives few assurances and promises to the people, and rather tells things as they are. This means that the address calls for vigorous and rigorous action and not a mere formality of assurances and wishful thinking. The study concludes that language structures can produce certain meanings and ideologies which are not explicit for readers. This is in affirmation to the assumption that language form is not fortuitous, but performs a communicative function. Keywords: John Evans Attah Mills, Ghana, Systemic Functional Grammar, Transitivity, State-of-the-Nation Address, Political Ideologies.
Abstract The study uses the transitivity model to analyze how President John Evans Attah Mills manipulates language in his first State-of-the-Nation address to express his political message to his people. The study is premised on Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar, and the qualitative research design was used for the content analysis of the text. The study applies the interpretative content analysis to investigate the communicative functions of the linguistic choices made in the address. 536 clauses in the State-of-the-Nation address were used for analysis. The clauses were parsed into their constituent parts, the processes were identified, coded and categorized and their roles determined. The study discovered that among the major process types, material processes dominate the speech with a total occurrence of 59.14% whereas the mental process types are used minimally in the speech with a total occurrence of 14.37%. The dominant use of material processes implies that Mills and his government are the main actors working on a number of concrete projects in an attempt to create a sense of developmental progression and continuity. The minimal use of the mental processes also implies that Mills gives few assurances and promises to the people, and rather tells things as they are. This means that the address calls for vigorous and rigorous action and not a mere formality of assurances and wishful thinking. The study concludes that language structures can produce certain meanings and ideologies which are not explicit for readers. This is in affirmation to the assumption that language form is not fortuitous, but performs a communicative function. Keywords: John Evans Attah Mills, Ghana, Systemic Functional Grammar, Transitivity, State-of-the-Nation Address, Political Ideologies.
DOGBEY, E.
8th ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE LINGUISTICS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (LAG 2015). KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KNUST), KUMASI, GHANA 27th – 29th July, 2015
Paper presented:
GLI, A SINGULAR PERFORMANCE MARKING THE GENESIS OF GENRES
Abstract
Abstract This paper examines GLI, a narrative construction in Ewe and features that expose its status as the source of all genres (written and oral) in Ewe. It explores the types as narrative GLI and poetic GLI; however, both types project dramatic status. Findings present, GLI as not just an etiological myth or a folkloric creation but a creative/ aesthetic work on realities and fantasies of life. It also emphasizes the fact that societies (in Africa and the world over) trace their history from oral traditions; hence, investigating the structure, form, content and others about genres (written) stemming from GLI as their source is a laudable endeavor. Finally, the paper identifies written genre as a replica of the oral one in de facto, and both oral and written genres could be accessed through performance (users’ actions on them). It recommends that, written works are best consumed when examined from the perspectives of their oral backgrounds and traditions despite the textual analytical approach projected by some schools of thought.
Abstract This paper examines GLI, a narrative construction in Ewe and features that expose its status as the source of all genres (written and oral) in Ewe. It explores the types as narrative GLI and poetic GLI; however, both types project dramatic status. Findings present, GLI as not just an etiological myth or a folkloric creation but a creative/ aesthetic work on realities and fantasies of life. It also emphasizes the fact that societies (in Africa and the world over) trace their history from oral traditions; hence, investigating the structure, form, content and others about genres (written) stemming from GLI as their source is a laudable endeavor. Finally, the paper identifies written genre as a replica of the oral one in de facto, and both oral and written genres could be accessed through performance (users’ actions on them). It recommends that, written works are best consumed when examined from the perspectives of their oral backgrounds and traditions despite the textual analytical approach projected by some schools of thought.
DOGBEY, E. (2015). EWE MAJOR STUDENTS' COMMAND OVER OVER COHESIVE DEVICES: COHESION AND COHERENCE IN THE NATIVE SPEAKERS' CREATIVE WRITING ESSAYS.. CURRENT ISSUES IN LINGUISTICS, LANGUAGE AND GENDER STUDIES, 1,
Abstract
(). . , ,
Abstract
Atintono, S. A., Issah S. A. & Moses L.
School of Languages Conference on Multilingualism in the African Context: Resource or Challenge?. University of Ghana, Legon October 27-29, 2015
Paper presented:
Community involvement in orthography design: The case of Sɩsaalɩ
Abstract
Atintono, S. A.
School of Languages Conference on Multilingualism in the African Context: Resource or Challenge?. University of Ghana, Legon October 27-29, 2015
Paper presented:
A Typological perspective on verbs of elevation in Gurenɛ locative constructions.
Abstract
