Basic 7 · Ghanaian Language · Rites of Passage
Child Naming, Register in Conversation and Translating Words
In this topic you will describe the processes involved in naming a child in your community, use formal and informal register in your Ghanaian language, and translate words and phrases between your language and English.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Describe the stages of a traditional naming ceremony
- Use formal and informal register appropriately in your Ghanaian language
- Translate everyday words and phrases accurately
What you already know
- Greetings and courtesies in the Ghanaian language (Upper Primary)
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Customs & Institutions
- Sub-strand
- Rites of Passage
- Indicator
- B7.1.1.1.1 – Identify the processes involved in naming a child
Introduction
In Ghana, a baby is not just born; the baby is welcomed. The naming ceremony introduces the child to the family, the community and the ancestors, and gives the child a name with meaning.
1. Why Naming Is Important
In Ghanaian communities, a name is more than a label. It can tell the day of birth, the order of birth, the family, the circumstances of birth or the hopes of the parents. That is why naming is treated as an important rite of passage, one of the ceremonies that mark a person's journey from birth to death.
2. When Naming Takes Place
| People | Name of ceremony | Usual time |
|---|---|---|
| Akan | Abadinto (Dzinto among Fante) | the eighth day after birth, early at dawn |
| Ewe | Vihehedego (outdooring) | the eighth day |
| Ga | Kpodziemɔ (outdooring) | the eighth day, at dawn |
| Dagomba | Suuna (among Muslims) | the seventh or eighth day |
The baby is usually kept indoors until the ceremony. Waiting several days showed in the past that the child had come to stay, since many babies did not survive the first week.
3. Processes Involved in Naming (Akan Example)
- Family members and elders gather at the family house at dawn.
- The baby is brought out of the room for the first time (outdooring).
- An elder, often the father's relative, holds the child and announces the name chosen by the father's family.
- The elder dips a finger in water and then in a drink, and touches the baby's tongue with each, saying "If you say water, let it be water; if you say drink, let it be drink."
- Prayers are said, and libation may be poured to thank God and the ancestors.
- Gifts such as money, cloth, beads and soap are presented to the baby and mother.
- The gathering celebrates with food, drink, drumming and singing.
4. Items Used at Naming Ceremonies
| Item | Meaning |
|---|---|
| water and drink | the child should be truthful: what is water is water |
| calabash | a vessel for water or drink, a symbol of the home |
| beads | worn on the baby's waist or wrist for beauty and protection |
| white cloth | joy and victory over the dangers of birth |
| money and gifts | the family's support for the child's future |
New words
- rite of passage
- A ceremony that marks a stage in a person's life.
- outdooring
- Bringing a newborn baby out publicly for naming.
- libation
- Pouring a drink as a prayer to God and the ancestors.
- dawn
- The early morning, when the sun begins to rise.
Summary
- Naming ceremonies welcome a child and give a meaningful name, usually on the eighth day.
- The process includes outdooring, announcing the name, the water-and-drink ritual, prayers, gifts and celebration.
- Items such as water, drink, beads and gifts carry special meanings.
Class activity: Naming Ceremony Role Play
- Study photographs of a local naming ceremony.
- Assign roles: elder, father, mother, relatives and baby (a doll).
- Act out the ceremony in your Ghanaian language, explaining each step.
You need: Printed photographs of a local naming ceremony, Calabash, Beads
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. On which day is a baby usually named among the Akan?
- A. the eighth day
- B. the first day
- C. the thirtieth day
- D. the hundredth day
Show answer
Answer: the eighth dayAbadinto.2. The water-and-drink ritual teaches the child to be…
- A. truthful
- B. rich
- C. quiet
- D. strong
Show answer
Answer: truthful"If you say water, let it be water."3. Naming is a rite of passage.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIt marks the start of life in the community.4. Bringing a newborn out publicly for naming is called ______.
Show answer
Answer: outdooringFirst public appearance.5. List four steps in a traditional naming ceremony.
Show answer
Answer: Gathering at dawn, outdooring the baby, announcing the name, water-and-drink ritual (or prayers, gifts, celebration).Any four.6. Why were babies kept indoors for about a week before naming in the past?
Show answer
Answer: To be sure the baby had come to stay, because many babies did not survive the first days.Infant survival.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Listening & Speaking
- Sub-strand
- Conversation and Everyday Discourse
- Indicator
- B7.2.1.1.1 – Use appropriate register in everyday communication (informal and formal) with diverse partners on grade-level topics/texts/issues
Introduction
In every Ghanaian language, the way you speak to a chief, an elder or a stranger is different from the way you speak to your age-mates. Choosing the right register shows good upbringing.
1. Formal Register
Formal register is used when speaking to elders, chiefs, teachers, religious leaders and strangers, and on occasions such as funerals, festivals, durbars, meetings and ceremonies. It uses respectful greetings, titles, proverbs and polite expressions. In many communities, a person does not speak directly to a chief but through the chief's linguist (Okyeame in Akan, Tsiami in Ewe).
2. Informal Register
Informal register is used with friends, siblings and age-mates in relaxed situations, such as playing, chatting at home or teasing one another. It uses first names, nicknames, short sentences and sometimes slang.
3. Examples in Akan (Twi)
| Situation | Formal | Informal |
|---|---|---|
| morning greeting to an elder | "Maakye, Nana." Response: "Yaa, me nana." | "Maakye!" between friends |
| asking about health | "Wo ho te sɛn, Agya?" | "Ɛte sɛn?" |
| thanking | "Meda wo ase paa." | "Ase!" |
| apologising | "Mesrɛ wo, fa kyɛ me." | "Sorry, chale." |
Other languages follow similar patterns. In Ewe, "Ŋdi na mi" is a respectful morning greeting to a group, while friends may simply say "Ŋdi!".
4. Rules of Formal Conversation
- Greet first, starting from the right side of the gathering.
- Use titles such as Nana, Agya, Ɛna, Togbe or Naa.
- Do not interrupt elders; wait for your turn.
- Use the right hand for giving, receiving and waving.
- Speak calmly and avoid slang.
- Use proverbs carefully; they show wisdom and respect.
5. Register on Different Occasions
At a funeral, speech is slow, gentle and comforting. At a festival or durbar, speech is formal and often uses praise names. In the market, bargaining is friendly and informal, but respect is still shown to older traders.
New words
- register
- The level of formality in speech.
- linguist
- The chief's spokesperson.
- praise name
- A name or title used to honour a person.
- proverb
- A short wise saying used to teach or advise.
Summary
- Formal register is used with elders, chiefs and strangers, often with titles, proverbs and a linguist.
- Informal register is used with friends and age-mates; choose register to suit the person and occasion.
- Respectful behaviour, such as greeting from the right and using the right hand, goes with formal register.
Class activity: Register Role Play
- Act out a greeting between a learner and an elder in your Ghanaian language.
- Act out the same greeting between two friends.
- Discuss the differences in words and body language.
You need: Printed photographs of familiar Ghanaian settings, Printed dialogue cards, Locally made puppets
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Through whom do people speak to a chief in many communities?
- A. the linguist
- B. the drummer
- C. the queen mother's child
- D. the youngest person
Show answer
Answer: the linguistOkyeame or Tsiami.2. Which hand is used to greet or give things respectfully?
- A. the right hand
- B. the left hand
- C. either hand
- D. no hand
Show answer
Answer: the right handCustom of respect.3. Slang is suitable when speaking to a chief.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseUse formal register.4. The level of formality in speech is called ______.
Show answer
Answer: registerFormal or informal.5. State three rules of formal conversation in your community.
Show answer
Answer: Greet from the right, use titles, do not interrupt elders (or use the right hand, avoid slang).Any three.6. Why do chiefs speak and listen through linguists?
Show answer
Answer: It shows the chief's dignity and authority, and the linguist uses wise, polite language and proverbs to carry messages.Respect and tradition.
Lesson 3
- Strand
- Reading
- Sub-strand
- Translation
- Indicator
- B7.3.2.1.1 – Translate words and phrases in his/her language
Introduction
Translation lets us share ideas between languages. A good translator knows both languages well and carries the meaning across, not just the words.
1. What Is Translation?
Translation: Expressing the meaning of words, phrases or texts from one language (the source language) in another language (the target language).
2. Translating Single Words
| English | Twi |
|---|---|
| house | fie |
| water | nsuo |
| food | aduane |
| school | sukuu |
| mother | ɛna / maame |
| father | agya / papa |
| book | nwoma |
| thank you | meda wo ase |
3. Translating Phrases
A phrase is a group of words without a full verb, such as "my father's house" or "a big black goat". When translating phrases, the word order may change. In English we say "a big house", with the adjective before the noun, but in Twi we say "dan kɛseɛ", with the adjective after the noun. A good translator follows the grammar of the target language.
4. Principles of Good Translation
| Principle | Explanation |
|---|---|
| meaning first | translate the idea, not just word by word |
| correct grammar | follow the word order and rules of the target language |
| natural expression | it should sound like a native speaker |
| cultural fit | use expressions that suit the culture of the target language |
| accuracy | do not add or leave out meaning |
5. Problems in Translation
Some words have no exact equivalent. "Snow" has no traditional Twi word because snow does not fall in Ghana, so the English word may be borrowed. Idioms and proverbs cannot be translated word for word: "It is raining cats and dogs" means it is raining heavily, not that animals are falling. In such cases, the translator gives the meaning in a natural way.
New words
- source language
- The language you translate from.
- target language
- The language you translate into.
- equivalent
- A word with the same meaning in another language.
- idiom
- An expression whose meaning differs from the meaning of its words.
Summary
- Translation carries meaning from a source language to a target language.
- Good translation focuses on meaning, correct grammar, natural expression and cultural fit.
- Some words and idioms have no exact equivalent and must be translated by meaning.
Class activity: Bilingual Word Hunt
- Read a short Ghanaian-language storybook.
- Pick ten words and five phrases and translate them into English.
- Make bilingual word cards and display them.
You need: Ghanaian-language storybook, Printed bilingual word cards, Exercise books, Pencils
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. The language you translate into is the…
- A. target language
- B. source language
- C. mother tongue only
- D. foreign language only
Show answer
Answer: target languageDestination language.2. Which is the best rule for translating idioms?
- A. Give the meaning naturally
- B. Translate word for word
- C. Leave them out
- D. Use only English
Show answer
Answer: Give the meaning naturallyIdioms cannot be literal.3. Word order may change when translating a phrase.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: Truee.g. "dan kɛseɛ".4. A word with the same meaning in another language is an ______.
Show answer
Answer: equivalentMatching word.5. State three principles of good translation.
Show answer
Answer: Meaning first, correct grammar, natural expression (or cultural fit, accuracy).Any three.6. Why is it difficult to translate the word "snow" into many Ghanaian languages?
Show answer
Answer: Snow does not occur in Ghana, so there is no traditional word for it; the English word may be borrowed.No equivalent.
Homework
- Ask an elder how naming is done in your family and write the steps.
- Translate ten household items into your Ghanaian language.