Book: The Imported Ghanaian-gctid62002

[Okomfo Akosua]

I was advised to get this book.  I emailed the Sista but I never got a response from her.  

It looks like a good read and is certainly entertaining.  The insults page on her website is funny.  Although I don't plan to go around insulting anyone it is good to know what statements mean like "bottom power" and "wo yE aponkyi"!  :haha:  

HOME - The Imported Ghanaian

[Agya Yaw]

Meda ase. I definitely need to know if I'm being insulted. I don't want anyone saying to me "wo yɛ kwasea!" and I just smile like a fool and not realize what was said. And then have to ask for a translation.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

This is one of my old Capoeira students. I've heard mixed reviews on the book and haven't gotten a chance to read it myself. Her Twi spelling needs work though. :sankofa:

[Agya Yaw]

Obadele Kambon;70970 wrote: This is one of my old Capoeira students. I've heard mixed reviews on the book and haven't gotten a chance to read it myself. Her Twi spelling needs work though. :sankofa:

Not only here but I have seen many variations in spelling of Twi words. I was thinking it's because of the different dialects Akuapem, Asante, & Fante of Twi but I don't know.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Sometimes that's the case. More often the case is people spelling Twi on the level of a slow kindergartener and not caring enough to actually learn to spell because the idea that Kmtyw languages are too worthless to actually spend time reading/studying runs deep. That goes for places where this shouldn't be the case like print media, advertising campaigns and election/political party billboards. Seriously, if people spelled english like they spell Twi they would get lambasted for being mentally retarded or having dropped out of primary school. The situation here is "Bepɔ so adwuma, obi nhwɛ obi to." - When working on the mountainside one doesn't look at another's buttocks i.e. because we all suck at it we forgive each other for sucking at it nor do we hold anyone to any standard...after all, it's just a "local dialect".

[Agya Yaw]

You should see some of the Twi responses I get when I write someone. Not that I don't trust your teaching but I keep telling myself there must be different ways to spell words like:

ahahammono
ahabammono

anaa

Meda ase
Medase

It can and does get confusing. Especially when I run into people that have been learning longer than me. I feel I can't correct them. One day I will as I build more confidence.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

You just have to learn the difference between dialect variation and incorrectness.
Ahahammono and ahabammono are both acceptable because both come from ahahan and ahaban which translate to leaf and mono - fresh.
I think we covered that in the colors flash cards thread.
Meda ase is the spelling of the word. Medase is not a dialect variation but just someone who doesn't know how to spell. It takes it as a one word chunk as though it can't be broken up into parts when it can as in meda wo ase, meda mo ase or even meda mo nyinaa ase n.a. Meda is the pronoun prefix + verb. Ase is the relator noun. It's not just one opaque chunk.

[Agya Yaw]

Aane, we did. I believe @Okomfo Akosua brought up the spelling of ahahammono/ahabammono. I purposefully brought up "Meda ase" since that is most common word I see spelled, as I now know, wrong. On that one I will start checking folks.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Good for you (us)! :soldiert: