Nouns, Narrative Writing and Drum Language

1. Forming Plurals in Akan

Akan changes the start of a word, known as a prefix, to form a plural. Singular prefixes such as a- or ɔ- may change to m-, n- or a-. Sometimes the first consonant of the word is doubled, as in "mm" and "nn". This differs from English, which usually changes the end of a word.

2. Plurals in Other Languages

Other Ghanaian languages use their own patterns. In Ewe, the plural is commonly made by adding "wo" after the noun: "ame" (person) becomes "amewo", and "vi" (child) becomes "viwo". Find the rules for the language you study, and collect examples. Many languages have irregular forms too, and these must be learned one at a time.

3. Nouns That Do Not Change

Some nouns do not usually take plurals. These include many abstract nouns, such as "nyansa" (wisdom), "nokorɛ" (truth) and "ɔdɔ" (love), and mass nouns such as "nsuo" (water). In English, these are often called uncountable. Ideas like these cannot be counted.

4. Using Nouns Correctly

In some languages, the plural form of a noun also affects other words in the sentence. For example, adjectives may take a plural form. In Akan, you say "mmofra nketewa" for "small children", and the adjective "ketewa" takes a plural form to agree with the noun. Check your work for this kind of agreement. Read widely, and note down the plurals you find.

1. What Is Narrative Writing?

Narrative: A piece of writing that tells a story.

A narrative has characters, a setting and a plot. It moves from a beginning through a problem to an ending. In your language, you may write about your own experience, or tell a folk tale. Traditional Akan stories, called Anansesɛm, often have the spider Ananse as the main character, and they usually teach a moral lesson.

2. Plan Your Paragraphs

3. Linking Paragraphs

Linking words show how events relate. They help your reader to follow the sequence. Note how the story moves on from one paragraph to another. Each one should have a clear idea and should lead naturally to the next. Find the matching words in your own language.

4. Telling the Story Well

Use direct speech to make characters come alive. Include proverbs where they fit, because they give a story a Ghanaian flavour. Describe sights and sounds, and do not rush to the end. Use the past tense consistently. Read your story aloud, in the way that an elder would tell it. If it sounds like something translated from English, rewrite it in a more natural way. Check your spelling against a good dictionary or book.

1. How Drums Speak

Drum language: A way of communicating by imitating the tones of speech on a drum.

Many Ghanaian languages are tone languages, which means that the pitch of a syllable can change its meaning. Drums can copy these high and low tones. Among the Akan, a pair of talking drums known as atumpan, one tuned high and one low, are used for this purpose. A skilled listener can recognise the phrases, especially well-known ones that are repeated, such as those for a chief's names.

2. Drums and Their Peoples

3. Uses of Drum Language

4. The Drummer

Being a master drummer is a respected role. Akan master drummers are given the title "Odomankoma Kyerɛma", the Creator's Drummer. The drummer must know the history, language and customs of the people. He trains over many years, and may be the keeper of traditional knowledge. Among the Dagomba, the lunsi hold the history of the kingdom in their memory. Today, written records and radio have taken over many jobs, but drum language remains an important part of ceremonies, and of Ghana's heritage.