REPRESENTATION OF DISABILITY IN AKAN DISCOURSE

Emmanuel Amo Ofori; Issahaku  Adam; Catherine Ekua Mensah; Comfort  Bonsu; Esther Asare

doi:10.4314/gjl.v14i2.2

REPRESENTATION OF DISABILITY IN AKAN DISCOURSE

Emmanuel Amo Ofori
, Issahaku Adam
, Catherine Ekua Mensah
, Comfort Bonsu
, Esther Asare

Department of Linguistics and Translation

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

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Abstract

The study examines some proverbs and insults in Akan that legitimise and reinforce marginalisation and stigmatisation of people with disability (PWD) in Ghana. Analysing fifty (50) proverbs and ten (10) insults from both written and oral sources collected through interviews and library search, the findings reveal that some proverbs and insults portray PWD as weak and vulnerable, making aspects of the Akan language a perpetuator of disability. Taking into consideration the Sustainable Development Goal 10, which strives to reduce inequality within and among countries by empowering and promoting social, economic and political inclusion of all, there is the need to make indigenous languages inclusive of the needs of PWD. © Linguistics Association of Ghana

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	27-43
Number of pages	17
Journal	Ghana Journal of Linguistics
Volume	14
Issue number	2
Online published	31 Dec 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4314/gjl.v14i2.2
Publication status	Published - 2025

Bibliographical note

Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Research Keywords

Disability
Marginalisation
Discourse Analysis
Insults
Proverbs
Akan
Akan Discourse
Critical Discourse Analysis

Publisher's Copyright Statement

This full text is made available under CC-BY 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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title = "REPRESENTATION OF DISABILITY IN AKAN DISCOURSE",

abstract = "The study examines some proverbs and insults in Akan that legitimise and reinforce marginalisation and stigmatisation of people with disability (PWD) in Ghana. Analysing fifty (50) proverbs and ten (10) insults from both written and oral sources collected through interviews and library search, the findings reveal that some proverbs and insults portray PWD as weak and vulnerable, making aspects of the Akan language a perpetuator of disability. Taking into consideration the Sustainable Development Goal 10, which strives to reduce inequality within and among countries by empowering and promoting social, economic and political inclusion of all, there is the need to make indigenous languages inclusive of the needs of PWD. {\textcopyright} Linguistics Association of Ghana",

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author = "Ofori, \{Emmanuel Amo\} and Issahaku Adam and Mensah, \{Catherine Ekua\} and Comfort Bonsu and Esther Asare",

note = "Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.4314/gjl.v14i2.2",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

pages = "27--43",

number = "2",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - REPRESENTATION OF DISABILITY IN AKAN DISCOURSE

AU - Ofori, Emmanuel Amo

AU - Adam, Issahaku

AU - Mensah, Catherine Ekua

AU - Bonsu, Comfort

AU - Asare, Esther

N1 - Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - The study examines some proverbs and insults in Akan that legitimise and reinforce marginalisation and stigmatisation of people with disability (PWD) in Ghana. Analysing fifty (50) proverbs and ten (10) insults from both written and oral sources collected through interviews and library search, the findings reveal that some proverbs and insults portray PWD as weak and vulnerable, making aspects of the Akan language a perpetuator of disability. Taking into consideration the Sustainable Development Goal 10, which strives to reduce inequality within and among countries by empowering and promoting social, economic and political inclusion of all, there is the need to make indigenous languages inclusive of the needs of PWD. © Linguistics Association of Ghana

AB - The study examines some proverbs and insults in Akan that legitimise and reinforce marginalisation and stigmatisation of people with disability (PWD) in Ghana. Analysing fifty (50) proverbs and ten (10) insults from both written and oral sources collected through interviews and library search, the findings reveal that some proverbs and insults portray PWD as weak and vulnerable, making aspects of the Akan language a perpetuator of disability. Taking into consideration the Sustainable Development Goal 10, which strives to reduce inequality within and among countries by empowering and promoting social, economic and political inclusion of all, there is the need to make indigenous languages inclusive of the needs of PWD. © Linguistics Association of Ghana

KW - Disability

KW - Marginalisation

KW - Discourse Analysis

KW - Insults

KW - Proverbs

KW - Akan

KW - Akan Discourse

KW - Critical Discourse Analysis

U2 - 10.4314/gjl.v14i2.2

DO - 10.4314/gjl.v14i2.2

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

VL - 14

SP - 27

EP - 43

JO - Ghana Journal of Linguistics

JF - Ghana Journal of Linguistics

IS - 2

ER -

REPRESENTATION OF DISABILITY IN AKAN DISCOURSE

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

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