Why German kids speak more Twi than UK kids
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Firstly, disclaimer: this is just my thoughts man, right or wrong, just what I was feeling at the time. *Jay Z voice*
From my small sample of Ghanaians in the diaspora that I’ve met, I’d argue that British Ghanaians have it the hardest to learn Twi and therefore have the lowest rate of Twi speakers. And I think I know why. Forgive me if it's obvious but I felt like a genius when it struck me.
I often wondered why every Ghanaian I met from Germany could speak fluent Twi like they could go bar for bar with Sarkodie, even if they never stepped foot in Ghana. The answer came to me when a friend had some family visit from Germany one summer.
Their mum would always speak to her kids in Twi. But this was not the giveaway, some parents are actually good at maintaining Twi at home. But here’s what struck me: she would switch to English before German. That was the giveaway!
Here’s my theory:
The remnants of our colonial history has meant that most first-generation Ghanaians arrive in Europe at least speaking English. However, for those that go to Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and any other cold countries, they have to master an extra European language on top. As we know, learning a new language as an adult is not the easiest task.
German especially has the reputation of being one of the toughest languages to learn. So I can understand why Ghanaian parents in Germany would find it easier and more natural to maintain Twi at home. Particularly when it comes to giving their kids very precise instructions for where to find their purse (which is usually not where they say it is 🤣).
Whereas, for Ghanaian parents in the UK that do not have this extra challenge, but are still trying to prove to their prayer group that they have mastered the art of Shakespearean English that you’d find in King James Bible, I guess it becomes much easier to revert to English at home. Thus, making it more difficult for their kids to learn Twi.
What do you think? Have I cracked it or am I totally off the mark? I’m genuinely interested to hear other reasons for this phenomenon or whether it exists at all. So feel free to drop us a line via the contact form if you are so moved.
If you like this, read How I learnt Twi using flashcards.