Ghanaian versus Togolese Ewe (publication version, JWAL)

Ghanaian versus Togolese Ewe

Abstract

Based on a survey of some Ghanaian and Togolese dialects of Ewe, this paper shows that there are features that distinguish dialects of Ewe spoken in Ghana from dialects of Ewe spoken in Togo. These features include lexical items, syntactic constructions, pragmatic uses of certain expressions and a hand gesture. Because of these systematic differences, Ewe dialects spoken in Ghana are collectively referred to as Ghanaian Ewe, and those in Togo are collectively referred to as Togolese Ewe.

Keywords: Ewe, dialect, Ghana, Togo

Nugɔmekuku totoɖeme To ŋuɖoɖo siwo Eʋegbedola aɖewo na tso Eʋegbe kɔtagbe siwo le Ghana kple Togo ŋuti dzi la, nugɔmekuku sia ɖee fia be dzesidede aɖewo li si fia be vovototo le Ghana Eʋegbe kple Togo Eʋegbe dome. Dzesidede siawo kuɖe nyawo, nyagbetutuɖowo, nyagbɔgblɔ aɖewo zazã kple asiʋaʋã ƒomevi aɖe ŋu. Le vovototo siawo ta la, woyɔa Eʋe kɔtagbe siwo katã le Ghana ƒoƒui be Ghana Eʋegbe, eye woyɔa esiwo katã le Togo ƒoƒui be Togo Eʋegbe. 

Nyatiwo: Eʋe, kɔtagbe, Ghana, Togo