Basic 5 · Ghanaian Language · Phonics: Letter and Sound Knowledge
Reading and Recognising Digraphs
In this topic you will read and recognise digraphs in words found in paragraphs of your Ghanaian language.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain what a digraph is
- Identify digraphs in words and paragraphs
- Read words with digraphs correctly
What you already know
- Letter sounds (Basic 4)
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- Reading
- Sub-strand
- Phonics: Letter and Sound Knowledge
- Indicator
- B5.2.4.1.1-2 – Read and recognize diagraphs in words found in paragraphs
Introduction
Some sounds in our languages are written with two letters together. When two letters combine to make one sound, they are called a digraph.
1. What Is a Digraph?
Digraph: Two letters that together represent one sound.
In English, "sh" in "ship" and "ch" in "chair" are digraphs. Ghanaian languages also have digraphs. Each language has its own set, so learn the ones in your language carefully.
2. Examples from Some Ghanaian Languages
| Digraph | Example word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| dw | dwom | song |
| gy | gyata | lion |
| hw | hwɛ | look |
| kw | kwan | road, path |
| ky | kyɛ | share |
| nw | nwoma | book |
| ny | nyansa | wisdom |
| tw | twa | cut |
| Digraph | Example word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| dz | dzo | fire |
| ts | tsi | water |
| gb | gbe | language, voice |
| kp | kpɔ | see |
| ny | nyɔnu | woman |
Your teacher will show you the digraphs in your own Ghanaian language, such as Ga, Dagbani, Nzema or Fante, if they are different.
3. Finding Digraphs in a Paragraph
Example (Twi)
Find the digraphs: "Kwame tɔɔ nwoma. Ɔtoo dwom wɔ kwan so."
- Kwame: kw
- nwoma: nw
- kwan: kw
- dwom: dw
Answer: The digraphs are kw, nw, kw and dw.
Read the paragraph slowly. Underline each pair of letters that makes one sound. Then read the paragraph aloud, pronouncing each digraph as one sound, not two.
Common mistake: Do not sound the two letters separately. "Dw" in dwom is one sound.
Knowing digraphs helps with spelling as well as reading. When you hear one of these sounds, remember that it is written with two letters. A good way to practise is to make a digraph chart: write each digraph at the top of a column and list as many words as you can find under it from storybooks, songs and the names of people and places around you. Names such as Kwame, Kwaku, Nyarko and Twumasi all contain digraphs.
New words
- digraph
- Two letters making one sound.
- letter
- A written symbol for a sound.
- sound
- What we hear when a letter is spoken.
- paragraph
- A group of sentences about one idea.
- pronounce
- To say a word correctly.
- underline
- To draw a line under a word.
Summary
- A digraph is two letters that make one sound.
- Twi digraphs include dw, gy, hw, kw, ky, nw, ny, tw.
- Ewe digraphs include dz, ts, gb, kp, ny.
- Find digraphs in paragraphs and pronounce them as one sound.
Class activity: Digraph Hunt
- Your teacher gives a paragraph in your Ghanaian language.
- Underline all the digraphs.
- Read the paragraph aloud to your partner.
You need: Locally made letter cards, Word cards with pictures of local objects, Bottle tops marked with letters
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. A digraph is…
- A. two letters making one sound
- B. one letter
- C. a full word
- D. a sentence
Show answer
Answer: two letters making one sounde.g. sh, dw.2. In the Twi word "nwoma", the digraph is…
- A. nw
- B. om
- C. ma
- D. wo
Show answer
Answer: nwIt makes one sound.3. Which is an Ewe digraph?
- A. kp
- B. zz
- C. aa
- D. oo
Show answer
Answer: kpAs in kpɔ.4. "Sh" in "ship" is a digraph.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueEnglish example.5. The letters of a digraph are sounded separately.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseThey make one sound.6. The Twi word "gyata" begins with the digraph ______.
Show answer
Answer: gyIt means lion.7. Write three Twi digraphs with an example word each.
Show answer
Answer: dw (dwom), kw (kwan), ny (nyansa).Any three correct.8. Find the digraphs in "Kwame tɔɔ nwoma."
Show answer
Answer: kw and nwTwo digraphs.
Homework
- Write ten words with digraphs in your Ghanaian language and underline the digraphs.