Language Shift: A Case Study of Ghana

Abstract

This paper discusses language shift in Ghana from two perspectives: (i) language shift from a Ghanaian language to English which is the official language and (ii) shift from one or two Ghanaian languages to a third Ghanaian language that has become a lingua franca of an area. I will also look at language shift that is societal and based on governmental and institutional policies and others that are individual and based on people’s negative or positive attitudes to certain languages and also for practical reasons on communication. The paper further discusses the major features of languages that are being shifted and the factors that bring about language shift in general and Ghana in particular. It will look at major areas where language shift is predominant and focuses on politics, parliament, the judiciary, the electronic media, education, migratory and settlement patterns. The paper will look at the problems with language shift and the need for language maintenance; and provide suggestions that can be employed to reduce or curb language shift.