African Languages Series: All about Akan, the main native language of the Akan people of Ghana

Akan is a central Tano language which forms part of the large Niger-Congo language family. It is primarily spoken in Ghana and also in some parts of Côte d'Ivoire. Akan has several varieties, the four major varieties: Fante, Bono, Asante and Akuapem are collectively known as Twi.

In this episode of this African Languages series, we take a deep dive into the semantics of Akan. We’ll give you insight into the linguistic structures of it, how context shapes this language, common idioms, and its nuances in songwriting. Watch this episode to learn about Akan and spark inspiration on how to improve language technologies for this vernacular.

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro to Akan
1:04 - What is the language structure of Akan?
2:54 - How does context shape Akan language?
3:55 - What are some Akan tongue twisters?
3:24 - Can you sing a song in Akan?
4:42 - Idioms of Akan
5:07 - Who would benefit most from language technologies for Akan?
5:45 - Challenges of developing language technology for Akan?
6:16 - Future of Akan language and the role of technology?

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