Basic 8 · Ghanaian Language · Puberty Rites

Changes in Puberty Rites, Narrating Events and Understanding Meaning in Translation

In this topic you will discuss how puberty rites have changed over time, narrate events using correct language and tone, and establish the meaning of words, phrases and sentences in your language.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

Discuss changes in puberty rites and the reasons for them
Narrate events clearly with correct tones
Establish the meaning of words, phrases and sentences in context

What you already know

Puberty rites and comparing cultures
Translating words and sentences

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: Puberty Rites
Indicator: B8.1.1.1.3 – Discuss the changes that has occurred in puberty rites performance over time

Introduction

Customs are not frozen in time. As society changes, so do its rites. Many puberty rites look different today from how they looked a hundred years ago.

1. How the Rites Have Changed

Changes in puberty rites

In the past	Today
held for every girl at puberty	many girls do not go through the rites
lasted many weeks or months	shortened to a few days or a weekend
girls left school or worked at home	held during holidays so girls can stay in school
strict secrecy and seclusion	sometimes public and even filmed
taught only by women elders	schools and health workers also teach hygiene
prepared girls for early marriage	education and later marriage are encouraged

2. Reasons for the Changes

Formal education: girls are in school during much of the year.
Religion: many Christians and Muslims do not take part in traditional rites.
Urbanisation: families live far from their hometowns.
Modern health education: girls learn about their bodies at school and in clinics.
Laws and human rights: girls' rights are better protected.
Cost: ceremonies can be expensive for families.

Teenage girls in school uniform walking to school

Figure 1: Girls in school Write a table of three changes in puberty rites and their reasons.

3. What Should Be Kept?

Many people feel that the good parts of these rites should be kept: respect, good character, cleanliness, and guidance from older women. Some harmful practices, however, should end. Any practice that harms a child's body, forces early marriage or stops a girl's schooling is against the law and the rights of children. In Ghana, female genital mutilation and child marriage are illegal.

4. Modern Forms of Guidance

Today, churches, mosques, schools and NGOs hold girls' camps and mentoring programmes that teach similar lessons in new ways. Some Dipo ceremonies are now held with health workers present. In this way, communities keep the purpose of the rites while adapting them to modern life.

New words

adapt: To change to suit new conditions.
urbanisation: The growth of towns and movement of people to them.
mentoring: Guidance from an experienced person.
illegal: Against the law.

Summary

Puberty rites have become shorter, less common and more public.
Education, religion, urbanisation and rights have brought change.
Good values can be kept while harmful practices end.

Class activity: Past and Present

Ask an elder how puberty rites have changed in your community.
Make a table of past and present practices.
Present which values should be kept.

You need: Printed photographs of local puberty rites, Traditional cloth sample, Beads

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

1. Which has changed puberty rites?
- A. formal education
- B. the moon
- C. the sea
- D. drums
Show answer
Answer: formal educationReason.
2. Today many rites are held during…
- A. holidays
- B. examinations
- C. school terms only
- D. the night only
Show answer
Answer: holidaysSo girls stay in school.
3. Child marriage is illegal in Ghana.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueRights of children.
4. The growth of towns is called ______.
Show answer
Answer: urbanisationTowns.
5. State three reasons for changes in puberty rites.
Show answer
Answer: Formal education, religion, urbanisation (or health education, cost).Any three.
6. Which part of puberty rites do you think should be kept, and why?
Show answer
Answer: Teaching of good character and hygiene by elders, because it guides young people. (any reasoned answer)Evaluation.

Lesson 2

Strand: Listening & Speaking
Sub-strand: Conversation
Indicator: B8.2.1.1.1 – Develop and modify their language in narrating some selected daily activities

Introduction

A good storyteller holds listeners with both words and voice. Correct tones and clear sequence keep a story natural and easy to follow.

1. Planning a Spoken Narrative

Choose an event, such as a trip or a family celebration.
Note when, where and who was involved.
List the main events in order.
Think of a suitable proverb or saying for the ending.
Practise aloud, paying attention to tones.

2. Tone in Connected Speech

In a sentence, tones can change slightly, because the words around a word affect its pitch. This is natural in speech. Listen to fluent speakers and copy the rise and fall of their sentences. Questions in many Ghanaian languages are shown by question words and special endings as well as by tone. In Twi, for example, "anaa" at the end of a sentence can show a yes/no question.

An elder telling a story to children in the evening

Figure 2: Storytelling Prepare notes for a short story from your own life.

3. Sample Narrative (translated)

"Last December, my family travelled to Kumasi for my cousin's wedding. We left home at dawn in a crowded bus. On the way, the tyre burst near Nkawkaw, and we waited for two hours under a mango tree. Mother shared bread and groundnuts with the other passengers, and soon everyone was laughing. We arrived late, but in time for the dancing. We all agreed that the journey had become part of the wedding."

4. Holding Your Listeners

Speak clearly and vary your voice. Use your hands and face. Begin with a line that makes people curious, and do not rush the ending. Traditional storytellers start with a formula that invites a response from the audience, which keeps listeners involved. Try starting your own story with a greeting or a question.

New words

connected speech: Words spoken together in sentences.
formula: A fixed form of words used to begin or end something.
fluent: Speaking smoothly and easily.
curious: Eager to know more.

Summary

Plan a narrative with setting, ordered events and a good ending.
Tones change naturally in connected speech, so listen to fluent speakers.
Voice, gestures and audience involvement hold listeners' interest.

Class activity: Story Circle

Sit in a circle and tell a true short story in your Ghanaian language.
Listeners note the setting and main events.
Give one comment on tone and clarity.

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. What should a narrative have?
- A. events in a clear order
- B. no setting
- C. no ending
- D. only proverbs
Show answer
Answer: events in a clear orderSequence.
2. In Twi, a yes/no question can end with…
- A. anaa
- B. dua
- C. papa
- D. nsuo
Show answer
Answer: anaaQuestion word.
3. Tones can change slightly in connected speech.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueNatural.
4. A fixed form of words used to begin a story is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: formulaSet words.
5. List three steps in planning a spoken narrative.
Show answer
Answer: Choose an event, list events in order, practise aloud.Any three.
6. Why do traditional storytellers invite responses from the audience?
Show answer
Answer: It keeps listeners involved and makes the story a shared experience.Participation.

Lesson 3

Strand: Reading
Sub-strand: Translation
Indicator: B8.3.2.1.1 – Establish the meaning of words phrases and sentences in their various languages

Introduction

A word can have several meanings. To translate correctly, you must work out the meaning from its context.

1. Words with Several Meanings

Meaning depends on context (English and Twi)

English sentence	Meaning of the word	Twi
The bank is closed.	a place for money	Sikakorabea no apono mu.
She sat on the bank of the river.	the side of a river	Ɔtenaa asuo no ano.
Kofi plays football.	takes part in a game	Kofi bɔ bɔɔl.
The children play in the yard.	have fun	Mmɔfra no di agorɔ wɔ adiwo.

The same English word needs different Twi words depending on the meaning. A dictionary alone is not enough; you must read the whole sentence.

2. Phrases and Sentences

Some phrases must be translated as wholes. "How are you?" is not word for word; in Twi it is "Wo ho te sɛn?", literally "How is your body?" "Good night" may become "Da yie" (sleep well). When translating, ask: What does this mean, and how would a native speaker say it?

An open dictionary on a desk

Figure 3: Dictionary Translate five sentences containing words with more than one meaning.

3. Using Context

Read the whole sentence, and the sentences around it.
Decide the meaning of each difficult word in this context.
Think of how the idea is expressed in the target language.
Write the translation and read it aloud.
Ask a fluent speaker to check it.

4. Keeping the Meaning

A good translation keeps the same meaning, tone and level of formality as the original. A polite English request must stay polite in Twi. Humour and proverbs are the hardest to translate. If there is an equivalent proverb in the target language, use it; if not, explain the meaning simply.

New words

context: The surrounding words that show meaning.
equivalent: Having the same meaning.
target language: The language you translate into.
native speaker: A person who learned a language from birth.

Summary

A word may have several meanings, so read the whole sentence.
Phrases are often translated as wholes, not word for word.
Good translation keeps the meaning, tone and level of formality.

Class activity: Context Translation

Find three English words with more than one meaning.
Translate them in two different sentences each.
Compare your translations with another pair.

You need: Ghanaian-language storybook, Printed bilingual word cards, Exercise books, Pencils

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

1. "Wo ho te sɛn?" means…
- A. How are you?
- B. Where are you?
- C. Who are you?
- D. Thank you.
Show answer
Answer: How are you?Greeting.
2. Context means…
- A. the surrounding words that show meaning
- B. a dictionary
- C. a type of noun
- D. a tone
Show answer
Answer: the surrounding words that show meaningMeaning.
3. The same English word may need different words in Twi.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueContext.
4. The language you translate into is the ______ language.
Show answer
Answer: targetDestination.
5. Why is a dictionary alone not enough for translation?
Show answer
Answer: A word may have many meanings, and only the context shows the right one.Context.
6. How would you translate a proverb that has no equivalent?
Show answer
Answer: Keep its picture if possible and explain its meaning simply.Strategy.

Homework

Ask an elder how puberty rites have changed and write a short report.
Translate a short paragraph from English into your Ghanaian language.