Language Choice in the Ɔkere Speech Community

Abstract

This study investigates language Choice in the Ɔkere speech community in the Eastern region of Ghana, Ɔkere is a Guan language belonging to the Kwa language family. The study gives a broad perspective of language contact involving two unequal languages and the linquistic outcomes. This is done in reference to language shift and language maintenance. Instruments employed for data collection were questionnaires and unstructured interviews. Data was sourced from homes, churches, schools, hospitals and other public places in the three communities which are Abiriw, Awukugua and Adukurom. The study brought to light the degree of bilingualism within the Ɔkere speech community due to their exposure to languages such as Twi, Dangme, Ga, English, etc… which has resulted in a high incidence of competence in a variety of languages. In view of this, members of the Ɔkere speech community have a variety of languages at their disposal to serve their communicative needs. The findings established that notwithstanding the urge for what Dolphyne (1982:52) describes as “group identification” members of the Ɔkere speech community have adopted a peculiar pattern of language use to satisfy their communicative and economic needs. This however is a strategy by the Ɔkere speech community to maintain their heritage language.