Lecture on Tweaa marks dept of Linguistics @ 50

Legendary linguist , Professor Kwesi Yankah, President of  the Central University College, delivers a lecture on ‘Tweaa’, at the British Council on Wednesday April 16 at 5p.m.

The Department of Linguistics, University of Ghana, celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, starting with a launch on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at the British Council Hall.

Established in 1964, the Department of Linguistics is one of the oldest on the African continent. Since its commencement, the department has strived to be among the best linguistics departments in Africa and has produced world class graduates and scholars well versed in both theoretical and applied aspects of language studies.

The department, which started with a pioneer class of five students, has trained thousands of students at both graduate and undergraduate levels to appreciate the nature of language in general and Ghanaian languages in particular, and their role in the development of society. It has also prepared students to take up prominent roles and provide solutions in all aspects of public life where language expertise in all forms is required. Currently, the department has 15 full-time faculty, four part-time faculty and one practical part-time instructor in sign language.

The department offers Bachelor of Arts (BA) programmes in Linguistics and Ghanaian Language Studies. Its BA programme covers courses in core linguistics (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics) as well as applied areas such as sociolinguistics, pragmatics, sign language, language acquisition, psycholinguistics and language use in specific domains such as politics, law and business. The undergraduate programmes are offered on the Legon Campus, Accra City Campus and through the University of Ghana Distance Education programme, under the Institute of Continuing and Distance Education. Graduate (MA/MPhil/PhD) programmes are offered in three areas, namely Linguistics, Ghanaian Language Studies and Teaching of English as a Second Language (TESL).

The department has maintained over the years a vibrant culture of research into aspects of core and applied linguistics. Faculty members in the department engage in field research work, language documentation, as well as research into theoretical linguistics. 

While the main focus is on Ghanaian languages, some faculty members also engage in research on cross-border languages and languages in other African countries. 

Currently the language spread of its research activities includes Akan, Buli, Dagaare, Dagbani, Dangme, Ewe, Ga, Gurenε and English in Ghana.  In addition to these relatively well-studied languages, its students and faculty continue to work on a number of under-described languages such as Dεg, Efutu, Gikyode, Gua, Kaakyi, Lεtε Sεlεε,  Tafi and Waali.

As the Department of Linguistics celebrates its 50th anniversary, members reflect on their record of excellence in scholarship, teaching and research at the University of Ghana and the larger academic arena. This occasion also affords the department the opportunity to maximise its potential in the delivery of high quality research and teaching in the years to come. 

The launch on Wednesday, April 16, 2014, will feature a special anniversary speech titled “Tweaa meaning and the social power of little words” by the legendary linguist Professor Kwesi Yankah, President of Central University College. The climax of the celebration will be an international conference at the University of Ghana in October this year.