![]() “Words” would therefore be realized as wes. ![]() Syllables are often simplified by weakening or dropping individual consonants. Examples include opi (from open) and stan (from stand). Some of the phonological features of Ghanaian Pidgin English include the omission of consonants such as /n, d, t, l/ at the end of words. Ghana can therefore be considered a diglossic speech community, in which English established its role as the high variety. While many commercials and radio stations are broadcasted in a variety of other Ghanaian languages, most entertainment shows, news on tv and movies are in English. It also dominates the educational system, in which it is the language in which all subjects are taught from grade four onwards. English became the official language, which means that it is used for all official purposes. It is embedded in a linguistically complex environment in which up to 45-50 languages are spoken. The English variety spoken in Ghana, being part of the West African Pidgin continuum, shares many similarities with other varieties spoken in the same region (e.g. Like the Portuguese, the English also operated out of fortified trade posts, from which the spread of English slowly commenced. Over the next decades, the influence of the English language as a trade language increased, slowly replacing the Portuguese-lexified jargon, even in the hinterlands. English interest was at first reserved, however, intensified in the 17th century. In the 16th century, two more sea-faring nations arrived in the area: the Dutch and English. However, somewhat of a lingua franca derived from Portuguese emerged near the coast. Language influence during the 150 years did not penetrate far inlands. Dating back as early as the 15th century, the Portuguese were the first to establish outposts in what was then called the Gold Coast, today’s Ghana. ![]() Like many other countries along the African coast, Ghana has had substantial influence from European colonizers.
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