Learning Ghanaian English

My good friend just posted a message to me commenting on my English writing skills, which made me and my PCV friend giggle. This gives me a good topic to talk about! Thank you Nikki!

Ghanaian English leaves something to be desired when it comes to writing and speaking, especially. It is a product of the poor education system and that even though English is their national language, it is learned as a secondary language for all Ghanaians. Those people that can speak English in my village wouldn't speak it to anyone unless I was there, so they don't get much time to practice.

So, all this is leading up to why I can't speak or write English anymore. Ha! I really can't! My boyfriend is always teasing me about this one time where I was trying to ask someone from my village if he has a fridge (mind you, this was on the phone, so it was even harder). I kept saying, "Are you having a fridge?" because that is the way they speak here. Also, they use the word 'small' to describe so many things like, "I am just going to sit here small." Translation: "I am just going to sit here for a while." Or when people are leaving somewhere they say, "I'm coming" when really they are leaving.

My English was never great to begin with (especially writing), but now since I spend most of my time talking to Ghanaians it has gotten so bad. I don't know enough of the local language to speak it all the time, especially when talking about business things, so I'm always speaking Ghanaian English. When my friend from home came to visit she commented on the way I would speak too and that's when I realized how I had changed. I'm constantly thinking about how to phrase sentences when I am speaking English with a Ghanaian, unless they are highly educated. It is like I am speaking another language and translating my English into that language. I'm learning Ghanaian English as a Second Language!