WO HO NE OBI (SELF AND OTHER)

Objective
WO HO NE OBI (SELF AND OTHER)
Introduction

The first time people meet, they try to find out some background information about each other. Among the Akans, they will want to know among other things your name, where you come from and where you are staying, your occupation, your parents’ names, your interest, and likes and dislikes. When you have finished reading this chapter you must be able to introduce your self and others (your parents, brothers, friend or teacher).

After working your way through this chapter you must be able to:

  1. Say and write about eight sentences about yourself
  2. Talk about another person (brother/sister, friend, teacher etc.)
  3. Use possessive pronouns appropriately. 

Lesson Vocabulary

Lesson Vocabulary

abak sεm (n) History
Adamfo Friend
Adamfo (n) Friend
Adeɛ Something
Aduane Food
Aduro (n) Medicine
Afe Year
Agorɔ Game
Akenkan (n) Reading
Anuanom (n) Siblings
Anuanom (n) Siblings
Asuapɔn University
Atete (v) Torn
Awofo Parents
Awofo (n) Parents
Bibini Black person
Bor fokasa (n) English language
Borɔni White person
Bɔdenyansapɛ (n) Science
Da (v) To lie/sleep
Da …ase (v) To thank somebody
Da.... ase To think
Din Name
Dunsia Sixteen
f E (adj) Nice, beautiful
Fi(ri) To come from
Fofor (adj) New
Frɛ To call
Ghanani Ghanaian
Gu (v) Spread over
Gyinapɛn Level in school
Gyinapɛn Class/Level
Maame Mother
Mpaboa (n) Shoe
Nanso (conj) But
Nkontaabuo Mathematics
Nkwan (n) Soup
Onyame God
Osuani Student
Paa Very
Pɛ (v) To like
sE n? How much/Many?
Seeseiara now
Seeseiara (adv Now
Sukuuu School
Yare (v) To be sick
ɔkasafo (n) Speaker
ɔmanpanyin President
ɛdeɛn? What

Lesson Conversation:

Akwasi Awuraa, mema wo akye Lady, good morning
Okosua Yaa onua Good brother
Akwasi Woho te sɛn? How are you?
Akosua Me ho yɛ, na wo ɛ? i am fine and you?
Akwasi ɛyɛ. Mepa wo kyɛw, wo din de sɛn? It is fine, Please what is your name?
Okosua Me din de Akosua My name is Akosua
Akwasi Wofi(ri) he? Where do you come from?
Okosua Mefi(ri) Amɛreka enti meyɛ Amɛrekani I come from America so I am an American
Akwasi Wofiri he wɔ Amɛreka? You come from where in America?
Okosua Mefiri Cambridge wɔ Amɛreka. I come from Cambridge in America
Akwasi Woka deɛn kasa? Woka deɛn kasa?
Okosua Meka Borɔfo, Spanish, ne Twi kakra I speak English, Spanish and (a) little Twi
Akwasi Wosua ɛdeɛn? You learn what?
Okosua Mesua abɔdenyansapɛ I study science
Akwasi W’awofo edin de sɛn? Your parents’ names are what?
Okosua M’awofo edin de John ne Joan My parents’ names are John and Joan
Akwasi Wopɛ deɛn agorɔ? You like what game?
Okosua Mepɛ bɔɔlbɔ/sɔka I like soccer

Lesson Monologue

ASɛNKA (MONOLOGUE): It is the turn of Akwasi Amissah to introduce himself during the first day of beginner Twi class. Below is his introduction.

 

Me din de Akwasi Amissah

Mefi(ri) Kumasi wɔ Ghana 

Meyɛ Ghanani

Seeseiara, mete Cambridge wɔ Massachusetts

Madi mfe(ɛ) aduonu baako

Meyɛ osuani wɔ Harvard asuapɔn mu

Mesua sikasɛm

Meka Twi ne borɔfo

M’awofo(ɔ) edin de Akua ne Yaw

Mepɛ bɔɔlbɔ

My name is Akwasi Amissah

I come from Kumasi in Ghana

I am (a) Ghanaian

Now, I live at Cambridge in Massachusetts

I am twenty one years old

I am a student at Harvard University

I study Economics

I speak Twi and English

My parents’ names are Akua and Yaw

I like playing soccer

A.AHOYIKYERɛ (SELF INTRODUCTION)

Look at the following questions and use the above monologue as a guide to answer them to fit you and share with your friend.

 

Wo din de sɛn? ........................................................................ (What is your name?)

Wofi(ri) he? ............................................................................. (Where do you come from?)

Woyɛ deɛn nipa? .................................................................... (What person are you?)

Wote he seeseiara? .................................................................. (Where do you live now?)

Woadi mfe(ɛ) sɛn? ................................................................. (How old are you?)

Woyɛ osuani wɔ he? .............................................................. (Where are you a student?)

Wosua ɛdeɛn? ........................................................................ (What do you study?)

Woka deɛn kasa? .....................................................................(You speak what language?)

W’awofo (ɔ) edin de sɛn? ........................................................(What are your parents’ names?)

Wopɛ deɛn agor(ɔ) ..................................................................(What game do you like?)

?

A. AHOYIKYERɛ (SELF INTRODUCTION)

<p><strong><em>Look at the following questions and use the above monologue as a guide to answer them to fit you and share with your friend</em></strong>.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wo din de sɛn? ........................................................................ <em>(What is your name?)</em></p>

<p>Wofi(ri) he? ............................................................................. <em>(Where do you come from?)</em></p>

<p>Woyɛ deɛn nipa? .................................................................... <em>(What person are you?)</em></p>

<p>Wote he seeseiara? .................................................................. <em>(Where do you live now?)</em></p>

<p>Woadi mfe(ɛ) sɛn? ................................................................. <em>(How old are you?)</em></p>

<p>Woyɛ osuani wɔ he? .............................................................. (<em>Where are you a student?)</em></p>

<p>Wosua ɛdeɛn? ........................................................................ <em>(What do you study?)</em></p>

<p>Woka deɛn kasa? .....................................................................<em>(You speak what language?)</em></p>

<p>W&rsquo;awofo (ɔ) edin de sɛn? ........................................................<em>(What are your parents&rsquo; names?)</em></p>

<p>Wopɛ deɛn agor(ɔ) ..................................................................<em>(What game do you like?)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
 

?

B.WOREYI OBI AKYERɛ .INTRODUCING SOMEONE

M’adamfo din de Akosua

ɔfi(ri) Cambride wɔ Amɛreka

ɔka Borɔfokasa, Spanish, ne Twi kakra

Akosua sua Abɔdenyansapɛ

N’awofo edin de John ne Joan

ɔpɛ bɔɔlbɔ/sɔka paa

My friend’s name is Akosua

She comes from Cambridge in America

She speaks English, Spanish, and little Twi

Akosua studies science

Her parents’ names are john and Joan

She likes soccer

Note: Akwasi introduces his friend by using the possessive pronouns m’ (me) (my) and n’ (ne) (her). Possessive pronouns will be looked at in details in the grammar section of this chapter. He also used the subject personal pronoun ɔ- (she). We learned personal pronouns in chapter 2.

It was a weekend so Akwasi took her friend Akosua to visit his parents in Bloomington, Indian. Akwasi’s mother (maame) wanted to know more about Akosua so she asked Akwasi series of questions about Akosua.

<p>Akwasi: Maame, mema wo akye</p>

<p>Maame: Yaa ɔba.</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Woho te sɛn?</p>

<p>Akwasi: Meho yɛ.</p>

<p>Maame: Sukuu te sɛn?</p>

<p>Akwasi: Sukuu yɛ paa.</p>

<p>Maame:Yɛda Onyame ase</p>

<p>Akwasi: Maame, m&rsquo;adamfo nie</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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                                    <td style="width:193px">
                                    <p><em>paa&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; very</em></p>
                                    </td>
                                </tr>
                                <tr>
                                    <td style="width:193px">
                                    <p><em>da.... ase&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; to thank ....</em></p>
                                    </td>
                                </tr>
                                <tr>
                                    <td style="width:193px">
                                    <p><em>onyame&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; God</em></p>
                                    </td>
                                </tr>
                                <tr>
                                    <td style="width:193px">
                                    <p><em>adamfo&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; friend</em></p>
                                    </td>
                                </tr>
                                <tr>
                                    <td style="width:193px">
                                    <p><em>dunsia&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; sixteen</em></p>
                                    </td>
                                </tr>
                                <tr>
                                    <td style="width:193px">
                                    <p><em>adeɛ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; something</em></p>
                                    </td>
                                </tr>
                                <tr>
                                    <td style="width:193px">
                                    <p><em>ɛdeɛn? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; what?</em></p>
                                    </td>
                                </tr>
                                <tr>
                                    <td style="width:193px">
                                    <p><em>nkontaabuo&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; mathematics</em></p>
                                    </td>
                                </tr>
                                <tr>
                                    <td style="width:193px">
                                    <p><em>gyinapɛn&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; level in school</em></p>
                                    </td>
                                </tr>
                                <tr>
                                    <td style="width:193px">
                                    <p><em>maame&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; mother</em></p>
                                    </td>
                                </tr>
                                <tr>
                                    <td style="width:193px">
                                    <p><em>anuanom&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; siblings</em></p>
                                    </td>
                                </tr>
                                <tr>
                                    <td style="width:193px">
                                    <p><em>aduane&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; food</em></p>
                                    </td>
                                </tr>
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                                    <td style="width:193px">
                                    <p><em>agorɔ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; game</em></p>
                                    </td>
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                            </tbody>
                        </table>

                        <p>&nbsp;</p>
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</table>

<p>Maame: Ne din de sɛn?</p>

<p>Akwasi: Ne din de Akosua</p>

<p>Maame: ɔfi(ri) he?</p>

<p>Akwasi: ɔfi(ri) Cambridge wɔ Massachusetts&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Maame: ɔadi mfe(ɛ) sɛn?</p>

<p>Akwasi: ɔadi mfe(ɛ) dunsia</p>

<p>Maame: ɔkɔ sukuu wɔ he?</p>

<p>Akwasi: ɔkɔ sukuu wɔ Harvard Asuapɔn mu</p>

<p>Maame: ɔsua ɛdeɛn adeɛ?</p>

<p>Akwasi: ɔsua nkontaabuo</p>

<p>Maame: ɔwɔ gyinapɛn sɛn?</p>

<p>Akwasi: ɔwɔ gyinapɛn mienu.</p>

<p>Maame: N&rsquo;awofo edin de sɛn?</p>

<p>Akwasi: Ne papa din de John na ne maame de Joan</p>

<p>Maame: ɔwɔ anuanom?+</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Akwasi: Aane, ɔwɔ anuanom miɛnsa.</p>

<p>Maame: ɔpɛ deɛn aduane?</p>

<p>Akwasi: ɔpɛ fufu ne pizza.</p>

<p>Maame: ɔpɛ deɛn agorɔ?</p>

<p>Akwasi: N&rsquo;agorɔ ne &ldquo;softball&rdquo;</p>

<p>Maame: Mobɛkɔ dabɛn?</p>

<p>Akwasi: Yɛbɛkɔ ɔkyena.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
 

?

Lesson Note

Grammar Notes

ɔdede Edinnsiananm(u) (Possessive Pronouns)

Other variations for saying your name are:

 

  1. Mede ……. (I am ….)                       
  2. Wfrε me ….. (They call me ….)    
  3. Yεfrε me ….. (We call me ….)

Possessive pronouns show ownership; they show ownership to someone or something. Examples are me (my), wo (your), ne (his/her) etc. In Akan, the possessive pronoun is written separately from the noun.

 

 

SINGULAR

      PLURAL

1st Person

me            my

yɛEn                 our

2nd Person

wo           your

mo                  your

3rd person

ne           his/hers

wn               their

Nhwɛso(ɔ) (Examples)

 

Singular

  1. Me din de Akua Kwartemaa.
  2. Wo din de Yaw Addo.
  3. Ne din de Sangu Delle.

 

Plural

  1. Yɛn din de John ne Mark.
  2. Mo din de Mary ne Martha.
  3. Wɔn din de Akwasi ne Akosua.

 

Note: This is how mine, yours, hers/his, ours, theirs are expressed in Akan.

 

  1. Ataadeɛ no yɛ me dea                         (The dress is mine)
  2. Aduane no yɛ mo dea                         (The food is yours)
  3. Nwoma no yɛ ne dea                          (The book is his/hers)
  4. ɔkraman no yɛ yɛn dea                       (The dog is ours)
  5. Mpaboa no yɛ wɔn dea                       (The shoes are theirs)

 

Points to Note

 1. The final vowel of the singular possessive pronoun is elided if the initial vowel of the possessed nouns is [a]. Examples

  1. Me ataadeɛ yɛ fɛ (My dress is nice) becomes M’ataadeɛ[mataadeɛ] yɛ fɛ.
  2. Wo ataadeɛ yɛ fɛ (Your dress is nice) becomes W’ataadeɛ [wataadeɛ] yɛ fɛ.
  3. Ne ataadeɛ yɛ fɛ (Her/his dress is nice) becomes N’ataadeɛ [nataadeɛ] yɛ fɛ.
  4. Others are n’ani (his eyes), w’awofo (your parents), m’ani (my eyes)

 

2. The exception to this rule is the 2nd person plural mo as in mo ataadeɛ [moataadeɛ], mo anuanom [moanuanom], mo adamfo [moadamfo] and the possessive plural pronouns.

 

3. Yɛn + a noun beginning with [a] is said as [yadamfo] (yɛn adamfo), [yataadeɛ] (yɛn ataadeɛ), [yakonnwa] (yɛn akonnwa), [yawofo] (yɛn awofo).

 

4. The possessive pronoun and the noun are written as two separate words. Do not join them as one word unless when the vowel is elided.

 

  1. Do not use a possessive marker [‘] when a possessive noun phrase is made up of two or more nouns (a noun and a noun). Example: Akosua maame (Akosua’s mother), Sangu ataadeɛ (Sangu’s dress), Kofi papa dan (Kofi’s father’s house).

Lesson Exercise

    The following were questions Akwasi asked Akosua (with the exception of woho te sEn? and na wo E?). If you were Akosua, could you respond to them? Try.

     

    QUESTION

    RESPONSE

     

    1. Wo din de sɛn?

     

    Me din de Akosua
    1. Wofi(ri) he?

    Mefi(ri) Amɛreka
    1. Wofi(ri) he wɔ Amɛreka? 

    Mefi(ri) Cambridge wɔ Amɛreka
    1. Woka ɛdeɛn kasa?

    Meka Borɔfo, Spanish ne Twi kakra
    1. Wosua ɛdeɛn?

    Mesua abɔdenyansapɛ
    1. W’awofo din de sɛn?
    2. Wopɛ deɛn agorɔ?

    M’awofo edin de John ne Joan.

    Mepɛ bɔɔlbɔ/sɔka

     

     

     

     

    Activity: With the help of the dialogue above introduce the person sitting next to you? Consult your instructor when in difficulty.

     

     

    Activity: Look at the picture below about African past leaders and talk about the people by completing the spaces below. First, discuss this with a colleague or your instructor.

    Nhwεso() (Example)

     

    Ne din de Kwame Nkrumah

    firi Ghana

    Na yε Ghana ɔmanpanyin

    dii mfe(ε) adusia mienu

    1. Form sentences with the following words

     

    1. asuapn …………………………………………………………………………………….
    2. gyinapεn …………………………………………………………………………………….
    3. frε ……………………………………………………………………………………………
    4. w (to have) …………………………………………………………………………………
    5. bibini ………………………………………………………………………………………..
    6. awofo ………………………………………………………………………………………..
    7. akenkan ………………………………………………………………………………………
    8. sua adeε …………………………………………………………………………………….
    9. seeseiara …………………………………………………………………………………….
    10. te (to live/stay) ………………………………………………………………………………

     

    1. Read the following simple sentences below. You may substitute the underlined to fit your situation

     

    1. Yεfrε me Akosua Maanu

    2. abaksεm         history

      borfokasa       English

      kakra                a little

      nwoma             book

      akenkan           reading
      Madi mfe aduonu
    3. Mefi(ri) Columbus w Ohio w Amεreka
    4. Meyε Amεrekani
    5. Seeseiara, mete Cambridge
    6. Meyε osuani w Harvard Asuapn mu          
    7. Mesua Abaksεm
    8. Meka Twi, Borfokasa ne Spanish kakra
    9. M’awofo edin de Kofi Annan ne Ama Badu
    10. Mepε nwoma akenkan

     

    1. Use complete sentences to respond to the following questions. Try this without your notes

     

    1. Wo din de sεn? ……………………………………………………………..
    2. Wofi(ri) he? …………………………………………………………………
    3. Woyε Amεrekani? ………………………………………………………….
    4. Woadi mfe sεn? …………………………………………………………….
    5. Woka deεn kasa? ……………………………………………………………
    6. Woyε sukuuni? ………………………………………………………………..
    7. εdeεn sukuu na wok? ………………………………………………………..
    8. Wogyina gyinapεn sεn? ……………………………………………………….
    9. εdeεn adeε na wosua? …………………………………………………………
    10. W’adamfo din de sεn? ………………………………………………………….

     

     

     

    1. Read the paragraph below about somebody introducing himself to a class and answer the question that follows.

     

    Me papa, me maame ne me nnamfo nyina frε me Akwasi Maanu.

    Mefiri Accra w Ghana. Seeseiara, mete Athens w Ohio.

    Meyε osuani w Ohio Asuapn mu. Mew gyinapεn baako na mesua amanyεsεm.

    Madi mfe aduonu miεnsa. Kasa a meka ne Twi ne Borfokasa.

    Mete French nso kakra.

    M’ awofo din de Papa Mensa ne maame Ama Kwatemaa.

    Wyε Ghanafo nanso wte Atlanta w Amεreka..

    Yεfrε m’adamfo Kwaku Asare na k sukuu w Harvard Asuapn mu.

    Aduane a mepε paa ne fufu ne nkwan.

     

    Nsεmmisa (Questions)

     

    1. kasafo din de sεn? …………………………………………………………………
    2. te he seeseiara? ……………………………………………………………………
    3. yε osuani w he? …………………………………………………………………..
    4. εdeεn na sua? ……………………………………………………………………..
    5. ka deεn kasa? ………………………………………………………………………
    6. N’adamfo din de sεn? …………………………………………………………………

     

    1. Translate the following sentences to English

     

    1. Yɛn sukuu din de Harvard University. ............................................................................................................................................
    2. M’adamfo wɔ anuanom mienu wɔ California. ..............................................................................................................................................
    3. Wɔn awofo pɛ nwoma akenkan ne bɔɔlbɔ ..............................................................................................................................................
    4. Wosua ɛdeɛn wɔ sukuu? ...................................................................................................
    5. Yɛresua Twi, Spanish, ne Arabic wɔ sukuu..........................................................................
    6. Nwoma no yɛ yɛn nnamfo dea. ............................................................................................
    7. Yɛn anuanom yɛ adwuma ....................................................................................................
    8. Me nua Kwame adi mfe aduonum na ɔgyina gyinapɛn mienu wɔ asuapɔn mu ..............................................................................................................................................
    9. Mefiri Kumasi wɔ Ghana nanso seeseiara mete Cambridge wɔ Amɛreka ..............................................................................................................................................
    10. ɔyɛ osuani wɔ asuapɔn bɛn mu? ........................................................................................

     

    1. Write at least eight sentences about yourself.

     

    ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

     

    1. Write at least eight sentences about your friend or brother/sister or mother/father

    .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

     

    1. Substitute the underlined with the appropriate possessive pronoun

     

    1. Me ne Kofi ntaadeɛ atete                   (I and Kofi’s dresses are torn)

    .........................................................................................................

    1. Ama aduro da ɛpono no so                 (Ama’s medicine is on the table)

    .......................................................................................................

    1. Akwasi sika hyɛ Akwasi bɔtɔ mu      (Akwasi’s money is in Akwasi’s pocket)

    ............................................................................................

    1. Kofi ne Ama awofo te California      (Kofi and Ama’s parents live in California)

    .............................................................................................

    1. Sika no yɛ me sika                             (The money is my money)

    ....................................................................................................................

    1. Portia ataade gu ɛpono no so             (Portia’s dress is on the table)

    .....................................................................................................

    1. Ebenezer ne Angbah nwoma yɛ foforɔ  (Ebenezer and Angbah’s book is new)

    ....................................................................................

    1. Mpaboa no yɛ Kwabena na Akwasi mpaboa (The shoes are Kwabena and Akwasi’s shoes

    ....................................................................................

    1. John sukuu yɛ fɛ paa                          (John’s school is very nice)

    ................................................................................................................

    1. Yaa ne Akua nnamfo yare                             (Yaa and Akua’s friend is sick)

    .........................................................................................................

     

     

    TASK(S)

     

    1. You are having a final project in a Social Anthropology class so you need to interact with the Ghanaian community in Boston. You meet the community head who wants to know a few things about you.  Introduce yourself to him/her.
    2. It is a thanksgiving holiday and you visit your parents with your friend from Harvard University. Introduce him to your parents.

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