Nkanee (Counting)

Objective
NKANEE (COUNTING)
Introduction

Counting is essential in the daily life of a person especially the Akans. We need numbers to indicate the quantity of items we have, to be able to transact business, to buy and sell, to tell the time, and to make appointments. We need numbers to talk about our itinerary and our daily time table. In Akan, counting is done in tens. When we do not want to use specific numbers we use quantifiers. Counting from 1-10 for humans is different from counting objects. After working your way through this chapter you must be able to: a. Count from one to thousand and beyond b. Express the quantity of items they have c. Express the quantity of nouns

Lesson Vocabulary

Lesson Vocabulary

(ɔ)fa Half
(ɔ)mu Full
Abadwafo Congressmen
Adehyeman Republican state
Akongua Chair/throne
Amansin Districts
Amantam Region
Baako kabea Singular
Bibini Black person
Bisa asɛm Ask question
Bu nkontaa Calculate
Bɔ ho Multiple
Bɛn? What?
Bɛyɛ About
Dodoɔ kabea Plural
Fa...ka...ho Add
Fahodie Independence
Fua/baako One
Fua/baako One
Fua/baako One
Hwan? Who?
Kakra Little/few
Kan adeɛ Count
Kurotɔw State
kyɛ mu Divide
Mmaa Women
Mmarahyɛ Legislatures
Mprɛ dodo Frequency
Nkanee Counting
Nkyɛm(u) Division
Nnipa People
Nnipa dodo Population
Nsrahwɛ mmea Tourist site
Nya To have
Sɛn? How many?
Te...fi(ri)... mu Subtract
To aba Vote
Wei This
Wiase World
ɔman Nation/country
ɔman panyin President
ɛyɛ den It's difficult

Lesson Conversation:

Lesson Monologue

Read the monologue below about a research Akosua made on America.

Amɛreka wɔnkurotɔw aduonum. Kurotɔw a adi kan ne Delaware, Pennsylvania na ɔtɔso mienu, Massachusetts tɔso nsia na Ohio tɔso dunson. Illinois tɔso aduonu baako, Washington tɔso aduanan mienu na Hawaii di akyi. Nnipa bɛyɛ ɔpepe ahaasa ne nsia mpem ahanwɔtwe ne aduonum na wɔwɔAmɛreka. Mmaa yɛbɛyɛɔpepe ɔha aduonum. Amɛrekafo yɛwiase nnipa dodoɔɔha nkyɛm(u) aduasa. Amɛreka anya ɛman mpanyinfo aduanan ɔnan. ɔmanpanyin a adi kan ne George Washington, nea ɔtɔso mienu ne John Adams na Abraham Lincoln tɔso du nsia. ɔman panyin a ɔtɔso aduanan mienu ne W. J. Clinton na Barak Obama na adi akyi. Washington dii ɔmanpanyin mfe nwɔtwe, Abraham Lincoln dii ɔmanpanyin mfe ɛnan na Clinton dii mfe nwɔtwe. ɔmanpanyin Barak Obama ne bibini ɔmanpanyin a adi kan. ɔmanpanyin biara nnii mfe du mienu da wɔ ɔmanpanyin akongua no so.

?

Lesson Note

Grammar Notes

Counting from one to nine for human beings

1. baako 6. baasia
2. baanu 7. baason
3. baasa 8. baawכtwe
4. baanan 9. baakron
5. baanum

Ordinals: Ordinals are used to indicate the position of something. Examples are 1st man
(barima a adi kan), the 2nd woman (ɔ baa a ɔtɔ so mienu), the last book (nwoma a adi
akyi(re)). Note: For any ordinal between the first and last use ɔtɔ so + the number.

This is how our working model for expressing ordinals will look like
a. X + a adi kan
b. X + a ɔtɔso Y
c. X + a adi akyi(re)
X = Noun (din) and Y = number

 

NKANEE AMMA BI (SOME NUMBERS)

In most cases when you have a proper noun as the noun expressed as the cardinal, we use an emphasize (na). Compare the sentences in group A with those in B.

GROUP A GROUP B
a. Kofi na ɔtɔso miɛnsa a. Kofi a ɔtɔso miɛnsa
b. Abena na adi kan b. Abena a adi kan
c. New York na ɔtɔso du c. New York a ɔtɔso du
d. ɔman panyin Bush na adi akyi d. ɔman pinyin Bush a adi akyi
e. Harvard na adi kan e. Harvard a adi kan

The sentences in group A means is... (eg. Kofi is the third) while the sentences in group B
means one of many. For example, Kofi a ɔtɔ so miɛnsa means there are so many Kofis and the particular one is the third.

Note: The pronouns nea is used for humans meaning nipa a, while deɛ is used for objects meaning ade(ɛ ) a.

*Note: The pronoun nea is used for humans meaning nipa a while deɛ is used for objects
• nea adi kan; (The person who is first) deε adi kan (the thing which is first)
• nea adi finimfini, (the person who is in the middle)
• nea adi akyire (the person who is last)
• Nea εtɔ so mienu (the person who is second)
• Deε εtɔ so du (the thing which is tenth)
• Nea εtɔ so aduonu (the person who is twentieth) etc.

Fractions (nkyεmu) and Percentages (ɔha nkyεmu)
Fractions in Akan are expressed by first saying the denominator and then the numerator. E.g. 3/20 is said aduonu nkyεm(u) miεnsa (20 divided into 3). The only exception is expressing ½ (half).
Examples (Nhwɛsoɔ)
1. ½ (fa/nkyεm(u) mienu)
2. 4/5 (num nkyεm(u) nan)
3. 1/100 (ɔha nkyεm(u) baako)
4. 20/30 (aduasa nkyεm(u) aduonu)
5. 5/16 (dunsia nkyεm(u) num)

Percentages in Akan are written the same way as fractions. Remember that a percentage is a fraction with the denominator as 100, therefore 2% is 2/100 which is written in Akan as ɔha nkyεm(u) mienu.
Examples (Nhwɛsoɔ)
1. 20% (ɔha nkyεm(u) aduonu)
2. 5% (ɔha nkyεm(u) num)
3. 99% (ɔha nkyεm(u) aduɔkron nkron)
4. 45% (ɔha nkyεm(u) aduanan num)
5. 200% (ɔha nkyεm(u) ahaanu)
Frequency (mprε dodo)
Frequency indicates the number of times something is done or something occurs. With the exception of once (one time) all others are expressed by mprε + the number. From twice to ten times, mprε + the number are written as one word (e.g. twice – mprenu, thrice – mprεnsa), while eleven times upward is written as two separate words (e.g. eleven times – mprε dubaako, twenty times – mprε aduonu)

Examples (Nhwɛsoɔ)
1. once (prεko) 11. eleven times (mprε dubaako)
2. twice (mprenu) 12. twenty times (mprε aduonu)
3. thrice (mprεnsa) 13. twenty-one times (mprε aduonu baako)
4. four times (mprεnan) 14. eighty times (mprε aduɔwctwe)
5. five times (mprenum) 15. ninety times (mprε aduɔkron)
6. six times (mprensia) 16. hundred times (mprε ɔha)
7. seven times (mprεnson)
8. eight times (mprεnwɔtwe)
9. nine times (mprεnkron)
10. ten times (mpredu)

Others frequency words in Akan are
a. da never
b. da biara everyday
c. daa always
d. abere biara every time
e. taa often

Activity
c. Can you express the following in English (say and write)?
i. aduonu baako nkyεm(u) miεnsa ……………………………
ii. nan nkyεm(u) baako ………………………….
iii. dunum nkyεm(u) du ……………………………..
iv. ɔha nkyεm(u) aduɔwɔtwe baako …………………..
v. ɔha nkyεm(u) aduonu num ………………………….

d. Can you say and write the following in Twi:
a. Sixteen times..............................................................................................................
b. 920..........................................................................................................................
c. Thirty-five times........................................................................................................
d. 2121

 

Student Notes

QUANTIFIERS (DODO-KYERɛ)

Quantifiers are used to modify nouns to show their quantity. In Akan, if a noun is countable and you know the specific quantity we use a specific number. The numeral is written after the noun. For example, twenty oranges is written as ankaa aduonu,
ten goats is written as mpɔnkye/mmirekyie du. Remember that in English the numeral comes before the noun which is the opposite in Akan. There are instances where we need to express an uncountable noun or instances where a countable noun is so many that we do not know the specific number. In such cases, we use non-specific quantifiers like pii/bebree (many, much), kumaabi/ketewaabi (very little), Kakra is also used for ((a) little/(a) few).

Examples (Nhwɛsoɔ)

1. Nnipa pii kɔNew York
2. Nsu pii gu fie hɔ
3. Me maame wɔɛmo pii/bebree
4. Mewɔnkyene ketewaabi
5. Nnipa kumaabi ahwere wɔn sika
In some cases we have uncountable nouns in containers.
When it happens this way we express the quantity by using the
number of containers.

Examples (Nhwɛsoɔ)

1. Mewɔɛmo bɔ tɔ /kotokuo baako
2. Yɛtɔn nsu ankorɛ mienu
3. ɔmaa me asikyire kɔɔ po du
4. Kofi tɔɔsɛmɛnte mmɔ tɔ aduonum
Asuafo no wɔsika adaka baako
6. Menomm biia ntoa miɛ nsa
d. Expressing more than (dɔɔ so kyɛn/sen) and less than.(sua kyɛn/sen)

Examples (Nhwɛsoɔ)

1. Me sika dɔɔ so kyɛ n wo
2. Kofi nwoma dɔɔ so sen wo
3. Yɛn ntadeɛsua kyɛn mo
4. Me nuanom sua kyɛn wo
5. Papa Mensa mpɔnkye dɔɔ so kyɛn me de.
Use pii kyɛn/sen or ketewabi/kumaabi kyɛn/sen this way to mean somebody has something
more than or less than the other
1. Mewɔsika pii sen/kyɛn wo
2. Mewɔntadeɛpii kyɛn/sen Kwame
3. Kofi nwoma yɛpii kyɛn/sen Abena

Other ways of expressing more than or less than with specific quantity in mind; for example, having $10 more than or less than somebody

1. Me sika dɔɔ so kyɛn/sen wo sidi du
2. Me sika sua kyɛn/sen wo sidi du
3. Kofi pɛn dɔɔ so sen Kwame bɛyɛaduonum.
4. Akosua aduro sua kyɛn me ntoa miɛnsa

 

Lesson Exercise

    Activity
    c. Can you express the following in English (say and write)?
    i. aduonu baako nkyεm(u) miεnsa ……………………………
    ii. nan nkyεm(u) baako ………………………….
    iii. dunum nkyεm(u) du ……………………………..
    iv. ɔha nkyεm(u) aduɔwɔtwe baako …………………..
    v. ɔha nkyεm(u) aduonu num ………………………….

    d. Can you say and write the following in Twi:
    a. Sixteen times..............................................................................................................
    b. 920..........................................................................................................................
    c. Thirty-five times........................................................................................................
    d. 2121.........................................................................................................................

    Nnsɛmmisa (Questions)

    1. Nkurotɔw sɛn na ɔwɔAmɛreka?
    .......................................................................................
    2. Kurotɔw bɛn na ɔtɔso mienu?
    ...........................................................................................
    3. Mmaa dodo sɛn na wɔwɔAmɛreka?
    ..................................................................................
    4. Kurotɔw bɛn na adi akyi koraa?
    ..........................................................................................
    5. Clinton dii ɔman panyin mfe sɛn?
    .......................................................................................
    6. Hwan ne ɔman panyin a ɔdii kan wɔAmɛreka?
    ................................................................
    7. Hwan ne Bibini ɔman panyin a adi kan?
    ..............................................................................

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

    Nkɔmmɔdie (Dialogue): John goes to a Ghanaian friend (Akosua) to look for some information about Ghana. Read the dialogue and answer the questions based on it.

    John: Onua mema wo aha.
    Akosua: Yaa onua.
    John: Wo ho te sɛn?
    Akosua: Me ho yɛpaa, na wo ɛ?
    John: Me nso me ho yɛ?
    Onua, mepa wo kyɛw, mepɛsɛmebisa wo
    nsɛm kakra fa Ghana ho.
    Akosua:Mepa wo kyɛw bisa.
    John: Ghana nyaa fahodie afe bɛn mu?
    Akosua: Ghana nyaa fahodie wɔafe apem
    ahankron aduonum nson mu.
    John: Afe bɛn na Ghana yɛɛadehyeman?
    Akosua: Wei deɛɛyɛden kakra. Menhwɛ.
    Oo! Menim. ɛyɛafe apem ahankron aduosia.
    John: Hwan ne ɔmanpanyin a adii kan?
    Akosua: ɛyɛɔsagyefo Kwame Nkrumah.
    John: Nnipa dodoɔsɛn na wɔwɔGhana?
    Akosua: Ghanafo dodo yɛɔpepe aduonu ne kakra
    John: Ghana wɔamantam sɛn?
    Akosua: Ghana wɔamantam du.
    John: Na amansin nso ɛ?
    Akosua: Amansin no yɛahaanu ne aduasa.
    John: Ghana wɔmmarahyɔabadwafo sɛn?
    Akosua: Mmarahyɛabadwafo no dodo yɛahaanu ne aduasa.
    John: Mprɛsɛn na Ghanafo to aba yi ɔmanpanyin?
    Akosua: Yɛto aba mfe ɛnan biara yi ɔmanpanyin ne abadwafo .
    John: Ghana wɔnsrahwɛmmea bɛyɛsɛn?
    Akosua: ɛyɛpii nanso menim ɛmu bɛyɛɔha ne baako.
    John: WoakɔCape Coast aban mu da?
    Akosua: Makɔhɔbɛyɛmprɛnan
    John: Onua, meda ase paa.
    Akosua: Nna ase koraa.

    Activity: Write down the information John got from Akosua.

    Homework
    1. Write and say in Twi the dates of five people you know e.g. your parents, siblings, friends etc.
    2. Write and say in Twi the following numbers:
    a. 600 ………………………………
    b. 229………………………………..
    c. 118…………………………………..
    d. 1920……………………………………
    e. 991………………………………………
    f. 47……………………………………….
    g. 102………………………………………..
    h. 405………………………………………..
    i. 1903……………………………………………..
    j. 843……………………………………………….
    3. Write in Twi the number of states in the United States. Can you arrange the states in ordinal form?

    4. Using ordinals, write the names of the first president of the United States to the present. (e.g. ɔmanpanyin a adi kan ne ………..)

    5. Write down the following numbers and then read.
    a. du mmiensa ------------------ 11. aduonum nsia -----------------
    b. aduonu baako ---------------- 12. apem ne dunkron -------------
    c. du nwɔtwe ------------------ 13. mpen nsia --------------
    d. aduasa nson ---------------- 14. aduonum nnan ------------
    e. ahaasa ne aduɔkron --------- 15. du nnum -------------
    f. ahaanu ne miɛnu ----------- 16. aduɔwɔtwe nwɔtwe -------------
    g. aduasa mmiensa ------------- 17. ɔha aduonu mmienu -----------
    h. ɔha ne aduanan nkron ---------- 18. ɔpepe baako ne dunsia ---------
    i. ahanum aduonu nnum ---------- 19. mpem nnan ne nkon ----------
    j. ahankron aduɔkron nkron -------- 20. aduoson nson --------------