Basic 9 · Ghanaian Language · Marriage Rites

Comparing Customs, Responding in Discussion and Translating Texts

In this topic you will compare marriage customs in more depth, respond effectively to questions and practise translating a range of texts.

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

Explain changes and contrasts between cultures
Respond effectively to questions
Translate a range of texts accurately

What you already know

Comparing marriage rites
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: Marriage Rites
Indicator: B9.1.1.1.2 – Compare and contrast the marriage rites in their culture to other cultures in Ghana

Introduction

Learning how others marry teaches us about their values, and about our own.

1. Marriage in Three Settings

Comparing cultures

Culture	Key feature
Akan	enquiries, knocking, head drink
Northern peoples	family elders, often with Islamic rites
Ewe and Ga	strong role of the father's family

These general descriptions cannot cover every town. Ask people directly, and take care not to make assumptions. When you study another culture, look for why a practice exists, and not just what it is.

2. Reasons for Differences

Why customs differ

Reason	Example
family system	matrilineal or patrilineal
religion	Islam, Christianity and traditional religion
economy	cattle, cloth or money as gifts
history	contact with other peoples

In cattle-rearing areas, animals have often formed part of the gifts. Where weaving is strong, cloth may be important. Religion has also shaped customs, and many families now combine them. So customs reflect how people live, and they change over time.

Cattle in northern Ghana

Figure 1: Cattle in northern Ghana List reasons why customs differ.

3. What We Can Learn

Looking at others' customs can help us to reflect on our own. A community might ask whether it needs such a long list of items, or how it could include young people's views. Cultures have always borrowed from one another. What matters is that any change is made with respect, and with care for what is valuable. Avoid mocking customs that seem strange to you, because your own customs may look strange to others.

4. Reporting Findings

Share what you find with your class. Use clear language, and give your sources: "According to Mr Dery, an elder from Nandom...". Do not generalise from one person. Use phrases like "in some communities" and "many families". If you are writing in your language, explain terms from other languages clearly. Careful reporting shows respect and helps your classmates to learn accurately.

New words

assumption: Something believed without proof.
generalise: To apply one case to all.
custom: A traditional practice.
reflect: To think carefully.

Summary

Customs differ because of family, religion and economy.
Study reasons, not only practices.
Report carefully and avoid generalising.

Class activity: Culture Interview

Interview someone from another culture.
Record their customs.
Report them accurately.

You need: Printed photographs of Ghanaian marriage rites, Traditional cloth sample, Calabash

Exercises

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

1. Something believed without proof is an…
- A. assumption
- B. appellation
- C. adjective
- D. adverb
Show answer
Answer: assumptionTerm.
2. Which can explain differences in customs?
- A. family system
- B. the alphabet
- C. the moon
- D. football
Show answer
Answer: family systemReason.
3. Customs change over time.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueChange.
4. A traditional practice is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: customTerm.
5. Give two reasons why customs differ.
Show answer
Answer: Religion and family system.Any two.
6. Why should you avoid generalising from one person?
Show answer
Answer: Customs vary, and one person cannot represent a whole people.Accuracy.

Lesson 2

Strand: Listening & Speaking
Sub-strand: Conversation
Indicator: B9.2.1.1.2 – Ask questions that link the ideas of several speakers and respond to others’ questions in a discussion

Introduction

A good answer is clear and respectful. In your own language, that often means being brief and wise.

1. Structure of a Good Response

Listen carefully to the question.
Acknowledge the speaker.
Give your answer directly.
Give a reason or an example.
Stop when you have finished.

2. Polite Expressions

Polite expressions in Akan

Akan	Meaning
Mepa wo kyɛw	Please, excuse me
Medaase	Thank you
Yoo	All right, I have heard
Kosɛ	Sorry, sympathy

Learn the expressions for your own language. "Kosɛ" can be said to someone facing a difficulty, even when you did not cause it. It shows sympathy. Such phrases keep conversations warm and respectful.

A young person greeting an elder

Figure 2: Greeting an elder Write polite responses in your language.

3. Handling Disagreement

You may disagree with a speaker, but do so politely. In a Ghanaian setting, you might say, "With respect, I would like to add something," rather than directly saying that an elder is wrong. Do not raise your voice. Give your reason, and accept that others may still disagree. It is often wiser to ask a question than to contradict.

4. Practising in Your Language

Speak your language as much as possible during these lessons. Practise answering questions in full sentences. Listen to good speakers on the radio. If you do not know a word, describe the idea in other words, rather than turning to English. Your teacher can help you to build vocabulary for discussion, including words for "agree", "reason" and "example".

New words

acknowledge: To show that you have heard.
sympathy: Feeling sorry for someone's trouble.
contradict: To say the opposite.
vocabulary: The words a person knows.

Summary

Respond directly, with a reason, and stop.
Polite expressions show respect and sympathy.
Disagree gently, and keep to your language.

Class activity: Question Circle

Ask each other questions in your language.
Answer in full sentences.
Use polite expressions.

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. "Kosɛ" shows…
- A. sympathy
- B. anger
- C. hunger
- D. distance
Show answer
Answer: sympathyPolite.
2. A respectful way to disagree is to…
- A. ask a question gently
- B. shout
- C. walk off
- D. insult
Show answer
Answer: ask a question gentlyManners.
3. Responses should give a reason.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueClarity.
4. To show that you have heard is to ______.
Show answer
Answer: acknowledgeTerm.
5. State the structure of a good response.
Show answer
Answer: Listen, acknowledge, answer and give a reason.Steps.
6. What should you do if you do not know a word in your language?
Show answer
Answer: Describe the idea in other words, or ask for help.Strategy.

Lesson 3

Strand: Reading
Sub-strand: Translation
Indicator: B9.3.2.1.1 – Decode the meaning of texts and translate from source to target language

Introduction

Notices, messages and stories each need a different kind of translation.

1. Types of Text

Translating different texts

Text	Focus
notice	clear, exact facts
story	style and feeling
instructions	simple, ordered steps
health message	accuracy and clarity
proverb	equivalent meaning

2. Translating a Notice (Example)

English: "There will be a meeting at the chief's palace on Friday at 4 o'clock. All are invited." When you translate this, keep the day, place and time exactly the same. Use the common phrasing of a town crier's announcement, in your own language. Check that nothing has been added or left out.

3. Translating Proverbs

Proverbs and meanings

Akan proverb	Literal meaning	English equivalent or sense
Dua koro gye mframa a, ɛbu.	If one tree faces the wind, it breaks.	Unity is strength.
Tikorɔ nkɔ agyina.	One head does not hold a council.	Two heads are better than one.
Sɛ wo werɛ fi na wosankɔfa a, yɛnkyi.	It is no taboo to go back for what you forgot.	It is never too late to learn from the past.

A person beating a gong-gong

Figure 3: Gong-gong Translate a notice into your language.

4. Checking a Translation

Read the translation aloud.
Ask whether it sounds natural.
Compare the facts with the original.
Check the spelling and special letters.
Ask someone else to read it.

Back-translation is a useful test: ask someone to translate your text back into the source language, and see whether the meaning has stayed the same. Health workers and Bible translators use such checks, because errors could be serious. Whatever you translate, your first duty is to be faithful to the original meaning.

New words

literal: Word for word.
equivalent: Having the same meaning.
back-translation: Translating a text back to check it.
town crier: A person who announces news publicly.

Summary

Each kind of text needs its own approach.
Proverbs need equivalent meanings.
Check your translations carefully.

Class activity: Notice Translation

Translate a notice into your language.
Back-translate your partner's work.
Discuss any differences.

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

Exercises

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

1. Which must stay exact in a notice?
- A. day and time
- B. the writer's mood
- C. the font
- D. the paper
Show answer
Answer: day and timeAccuracy.
2. "Sɛ wo werɛ fi na wosankɔfa a, yɛnkyi" relates to…
- A. Sankofa
- B. rain
- C. farming
- D. marriage
Show answer
Answer: SankofaProverb.
3. Literal translation of proverbs is usually best.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseUse equivalent meaning.
4. Word-for-word means ______.
Show answer
Answer: literalTerm.
5. Give an English sense of "Tikorɔ nkɔ agyina".
Show answer
Answer: Two heads are better than one.Proverb.
6. Why is back-translation useful?
Show answer
Answer: It shows whether the meaning has stayed the same.Checking.

Homework

Translate three proverbs from your language into English, giving their meanings.