Akan language

language of Akan lands in Ghana

Akan is a language group spoken by related peoples in mainly Ghana and eastern Côte d'Ivoire. Akan belongs to the Kwa group of the Niger-Congo language family.[1]

Akan
Akan
Native toGhana, Ivory Coast (Abron), Benin (Tchumbuli)
EthnicityAkan people
Native speakers
32 million (2017)
Latin (Twi alphabet, Fante alphabet)
Twi Braille
Official status
Official language in
None.
— Government-sponsored language of Ghana
Regulated byAkan Orthography Committee
Language codes
ISO 639-1ak
ISO 639-2aka
ISO 639-3aka – inclusive code
Individual codes:
abr – Abron dialect
bqa – Tchumbuli
fat – Fante dialect
twi – Twi
wss – Wasa
Glottologakan1251  Akanic
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Dialects

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Akan comprises four main mutually intelligible dialects: Fante, Asante Twi,Bono and Akwapim Twi. Asante Twi is the widely used.  Akan is the most widely spoken and used indigenous language in Ghana. About 44%, of Ghana’s population of about 22 million, speak Akan as first language. However, about 80% of Ghanaians speak Akan as a first and second language. It is officially recognized for literacy, at least at the lower primary (Primary 1-3) level, and studied at university as a bachelor or masters program. It is the most important indigenous language of Ghana. It is the language of the Western, Central, Ashanti, Eastern, Brong Ahafo regions, and the northern portion of the Volta region of Ghana.[2]

A form of Akan is also spoken in South America, notably Suriname and Jamaica. The language came to these places through the slave trade.

Studies

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Akan is studied in major universities in the United States, including Ohio University, Ohio State University, University of Wisconsin, Harvard University, Boston University, Indiana University, Michigan University, and The University of Florida. It has been a regular African language of study in the annual Summer Cooperative African Languages Institute (SCALI) program.

References

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  1. "Akan People, Language, Religion, Culture, and Other Facts". BuzzGhana - Famous People, Celebrity Bios, Updates and Trendy News. 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  2. "Ghana The Akan Group - Flags, Maps, Economy, History, Climate, Natural Resources, Current Issues, International Agreements, Population, Social Statistics, Political System". photius.com. Retrieved 2021-06-22.