Word for the Travel Wise (02/08/06)

For the most part English, French and Arabic language capabilities will help mostly anyone wanting to travel the length of Africa. Many countries have embraced the three as one if not two of the official languages, but I'm still a fan of real indigenous African words. You just never know when they'll come in handy. I can't stress this enough, but let me hop off my soap box. It's been a moment since I last posted a word from the continent so I'll cut to the chase with this post.

Today's word is a Twi word used in Ghana:

akwantuo - travel

A very basic word today. Before you head out on your travels or 'akwantuo' to Ghana be sure to play around this word a few times. This word comes from a specially made list of words I requested from a friend of a friend who is a native Ghanaian and Twi speaker. (I know, I know - I do my best to keep them coming just for you guys.) Pronounced 'chwee,' the language is spoken by some 7 million people concentrated in southern Ghana and is a dialect of the Akan language which belongs to the Kwa language family. Wikipedia is a good place to start for the background info. Unfortunately there aren't many Twi resources on the web so I encourage you all to make some friends from Ghana, take a trip or exercise some of these useful books and CD's found on Amazon. You could also try My Language Exchange, but the chances of there being a fully Twi speaking person wanting to swap your language knowledge for yours doesn't seem too bright. Sorry, but worry not. I still have my list and more words to follow.

Filed under: Learning, Africa, Ghana, Foreign Language