Language Shift and Maintenance of Ga in Accra

Abstract

The situation whereby a speech community uses its language in fewer domains relating to other languages or even loses proficiency entirely in its language in favor of other languages as a consequence of urbanization is a widespread social phenomenon that affects several millions of speech communities all over the world.  Some studies have been made, especially, from Western perspectives, in order to get a good understanding of this social phenomenon so that predictions can be made as regards the future status of languages, especially, subordinate languages in communities with dominants languages. The paper investigates into whether or not the Accra speech community, a highly multilingual city, is shifting from the use of Ga to other languages or is maintaining the use of Ga. The major findings of the study are that language shift situations exist more in non-typical Ga areas while language maintenance is observed in mainstream Ga communities. Some factors responsible for these linguistic phenomena results are highlighted. The results of this study led to the recognition of the need for the Gas to cultivate positive attitude towards their language in domains beyond their homes and the need for adequate language planning in order to assure of maintenance of the native language.

Keywords: language shift, language maintenance, speech communities, multilingual.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-15-11

Publication date:May 31^st 2019