Basic 8 · Ghanaian Language · The Clan System
Importance of the Clan System, Listening to Dialogues and Translating Sentences
In this topic you will discuss the importance of the clan system, listen to dialogues attentively to identify key information, and translate sentences accurately.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain the importance of the clan system in society
- Listen to a dialogue and identify key information
- Translate sentences accurately and naturally
What you already know
- The clan system (Basic 7)
- Listening comprehension and translation
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
- The Clan System
- Indicator
- B8.1.3.1.1 – Discuss the importance and threats to the clan system
Introduction
In a Ghanaian town, a stranger who says "I belong to the Asona clan" may be welcomed as family by other Asona people. Clans connect people across towns and generations.
1. Review of the Clan System
A clan is a group of families descended from a common ancestor. The Akan have eight main clans, traced through the mother, each with a totem. Among the Ewe, Ga, Dagomba and others, descent is mainly through the father. Clan names and histories are passed down from elders to the young.
2. Importance of the Clan
| Area | Importance |
|---|---|
| identity | shows who a person is and where they belong |
| support | helps members in sickness, death and need |
| marriage | prevents marriage between close relatives |
| inheritance | decides who inherits property and titles |
| leadership | provides chiefs, queen mothers and family heads |
| discipline | elders correct bad behaviour |
| social unity | links people across towns |
| conservation | respect for totems protects some animals |
3. The Abusua Panin
Among the Akan, the family head (abusuapanin) leads the family or clan group. He settles disputes, looks after family property, represents the family at funerals and marriages and advises members. A female head (obaapanin) guides the women. These leaders are chosen for their wisdom and character.
4. The Clan at Funerals and Marriages
Clan members work together at funerals, contributing money and labour. At marriages, the family investigates the other family's clan to avoid marriage between close relatives. In this way, the clan protects the health of future generations and shares the burdens of life.
New words
- abusuapanin
- The Akan family head.
- inheritance
- Property passed on after death.
- discipline
- Training people to obey rules.
- conservation
- Protecting nature.
Summary
- Clans give identity, support, leadership and discipline.
- They control marriage and inheritance and link people across towns.
- Family heads guide members and settle disputes.
Class activity: Clan Importance Chart
- List five ways the clan helps its members in your community.
- Give a real example of each from elders.
- Present your chart to the class.
You need: Printed photographs of local clan symbols, Printed family-tree cards, Traditional cloth sample
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. The Akan family head is the…
- A. abusuapanin
- B. okyeame
- C. ɔkɔmfoɔ
- D. asafohene
Show answer
Answer: abusuapaninFamily head.2. Clans help to prevent…
- A. marriage between close relatives
- B. rainfall
- C. school attendance
- D. trade
Show answer
Answer: marriage between close relativesMarriage rule.3. Clan members support each other at funerals.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueSupport.4. Property passed on after death is ______.
Show answer
Answer: inheritancePassed on.5. State four importances of the clan system.
Show answer
Answer: Identity, support, marriage control, leadership (or inheritance, discipline).Any four.6. How can respect for totems help conservation?
Show answer
Answer: People do not kill or eat their clan's totem animal, which protects those animals.Conservation.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Listening & Speaking
- Sub-strand
- Listening Comprehension
- Indicator
- B8.2.2.1.1 – Listen to a level-appropriate dialogue attentively and identify key information
Introduction
A dialogue has two or more voices. To follow it, you must notice who is speaking, what each person wants and how the conversation changes.
1. Listening for Key Information
| Question | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Who is speaking? | identify the characters |
| Where are they? | find the setting |
| What is the topic? | follow the main idea |
| What does each person want? | understand their aims |
| How do they feel? | notice tone of voice |
| How does it end? | find the outcome |
2. Listening Text (read aloud by two learners, translated)
Maame: "Yaa, I hear you want to go to the city after JHS."
Yaa: "Yes, Mother. My friend Efua says there are many jobs there."
Maame: "What kind of work? You are only fifteen. Stay and go to Senior High School."
Yaa: "But the fees..."
Maame: "Free SHS has removed the fees. Your only work is to study. Who will look after you in the city? Remember what happened to Afia's daughter."
Yaa: "You are right, Mother. I will stay and learn."
3. Key Information
| Item | Answer |
|---|---|
| speakers | Maame (mother) and Yaa (daughter) |
| topic | whether Yaa should go to the city after JHS |
| Yaa's reason | jobs in the city |
| mother's reasons | she is young; Free SHS removes fees; the city is unsafe |
| outcome | Yaa decides to stay and go to school |
4. Listening Skills
Before listening, read the questions if you have them. While listening, note key words only. Notice how tone shows feeling: the mother is firm but caring. Afterwards, retell the dialogue in your own words. Listening to radio dramas in your language is good practice.
New words
- dialogue
- A conversation between two or more people.
- outcome
- The result of something.
- tone of voice
- The feeling shown by how something is said.
- key word
- An important word.
Summary
- In a dialogue, listen for speakers, setting, topic, aims, feelings and outcome.
- Note key words while listening, and retell afterwards.
- Radio dramas in Ghanaian languages provide good practice.
Class activity: Dialogue Performance
- Listen to a dialogue read by two learners.
- Note the key information in a table.
- Act out a new ending in your Ghanaian 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. What does Yaa want to do at first?
- A. go to the city
- B. go to the farm
- C. become a chief
- D. go abroad
Show answer
Answer: go to the cityDialogue.2. How does the mother's tone seem?
- A. firm but caring
- B. cruel
- C. bored
- D. joyful
Show answer
Answer: firm but caringTone.3. Yaa finally decides to stay and learn.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueOutcome.4. The result of something is its ______.
Show answer
Answer: outcomeResult.5. State two reasons the mother gives.
Show answer
Answer: Yaa is young and Free SHS has removed the fees (or the city is unsafe).Any two.6. What can you infer about Afia's daughter?
Show answer
Answer: Something bad happened to her in the city, which worries the mother.Inference.
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
Translating a sentence means keeping its meaning while following the grammar of the other language. Small errors can change the sense completely.
1. Key Points in Translating Sentences
| Point | Example |
|---|---|
| word order | a big house → dan kɛseɛ |
| tense | I went → mekɔɔ; I will go → mɛkɔ |
| pronouns | she → ɔ- (Twi does not mark he or she) |
| plurals | children → mmɔfra |
| negatives | I do not know → mennim |
| questions | Where are you going? → Worekɔ he? |
2. Worked Examples
Translate into Twi
Translate "The children are going to school."
- Subject: the children → mmɔfra no.
- Continuous verb: are going → rekɔ.
- Object: school → sukuu.
Answer: Mmɔfra no rekɔ sukuu.
Translate into English
Translate "Me maame tɔɔ nkateɛ wɔ dwam."
- Me maame → my mother.
- tɔɔ → bought (past form).
- nkateɛ → groundnuts; wɔ dwam → at the market.
Answer: My mother bought groundnuts at the market.
3. Mistakes to Avoid
Do not translate word for word. Do not forget tense changes, such as the long vowel in "mekɔɔ". Do not leave out small words, such as the definite marker "no" in Twi, which comes after the noun. Keep names unchanged. Check that your translation sounds natural when read aloud.
4. Practice in Both Directions
Translate from English into your language and from your language into English. Each direction teaches something different. Going into your language tests your grammar; going into English tests your understanding of expressions. Compare your work with a partner's and discuss differences.
New words
- word order
- The arrangement of words in a sentence.
- negative
- A form that says "not".
- definite marker
- A word meaning "the".
- natural
- Sounding as a native speaker would say it.
Summary
- Check word order, tense, pronouns, plurals, negatives and questions.
- Translate meaning, not word for word, and keep names unchanged.
- Practise translating in both directions.
Class activity: Two-Way Translation
- Translate five English sentences into your language.
- Translate five sentences from your reader into English.
- Compare and correct with a partner.
You need: Ghanaian-language storybook, Printed bilingual word cards, Exercise books, Pencils
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. "Mmɔfra no rekɔ sukuu" means…
- A. The children are going to school.
- B. The child went home.
- C. The teacher is coming.
- D. The children ate.
Show answer
Answer: The children are going to school.Translation.2. In Twi, the word "no" after a noun means…
- A. the
- B. not
- C. and
- D. because
Show answer
Answer: theDefinite marker.3. Names should stay unchanged in translation.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueNames.4. The arrangement of words in a sentence is word ______.
Show answer
Answer: orderSyntax.5. Translate into your language: "My mother bought groundnuts."
Show answer
Answer: e.g. Twi: Me maame tɔɔ nkateɛ.Tense.6. Why is translating into your own language a good test of grammar?
Show answer
Answer: You must apply its word order, tense and plural rules correctly.Grammar.
Homework
- Ask elders why the clan is important and write five points.
- Listen to a radio programme in your language and note its key information.