Decolonization of indigenous language media practice in Ghana: myth or reality?
The marginalization of Ghanaian indigenous languages from the media space ceased in the 1990s when the airwaves were liberalized. This was not only a ground-breaking experience for diversification but also a way of getting the majority of the population informed, especially through radio, which is a...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Conversational Society of Philosophy (CSP)
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Arụmarụka |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajct.v2i1.5 |
| _version_ | 1828132805928812544 |
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| author | Eric OPOKU MENSAH Caroline ABOAGYE DA-COSTA |
| author_facet | Eric OPOKU MENSAH Caroline ABOAGYE DA-COSTA |
| author_sort | Eric OPOKU MENSAH |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The marginalization of Ghanaian indigenous languages from the media space ceased in the 1990s when the airwaves were liberalized. This was not only a ground-breaking experience for diversification but also a way of getting the majority of the population informed, especially through radio, which is a comparatively accessible medium. However, indigenous language use for radio news broadcasts has come under intense criticism for the extensive use of embellishments like proverbs, which are believed to digress from foreign and acceptable news standards. Using content analysis of Ghanaian media policy documents, sampled news recordings from selected private FM radio stations, and semi-structured interviews with selected news professionals, this paper argues that Ghanaian indigenous language communication forms include embellishments and their accurate use presupposes an immense understanding of the language. Hence, indigenous languages cannot be adapted and appreciated wholesomely in the media space if aspects of it are downplayed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T17:10:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-33a9bd388aa4413eb15a833b243aea97 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2788-7928 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T17:10:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Conversational Society of Philosophy (CSP) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arụmarụka |
| spelling | doaj.art-33a9bd388aa4413eb15a833b243aea972022-12-22T04:12:56ZengConversational Society of Philosophy (CSP)Arụmarụka2788-79282022-06-012198126Decolonization of indigenous language media practice in Ghana: myth or reality?Eric OPOKU MENSAH 0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4178-6615Caroline ABOAGYE DA-COSTA1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3380-5086Ghana Institute of Journalism, Accra, GhanaGhana Institute of Journalism, Accra, GhanaThe marginalization of Ghanaian indigenous languages from the media space ceased in the 1990s when the airwaves were liberalized. This was not only a ground-breaking experience for diversification but also a way of getting the majority of the population informed, especially through radio, which is a comparatively accessible medium. However, indigenous language use for radio news broadcasts has come under intense criticism for the extensive use of embellishments like proverbs, which are believed to digress from foreign and acceptable news standards. Using content analysis of Ghanaian media policy documents, sampled news recordings from selected private FM radio stations, and semi-structured interviews with selected news professionals, this paper argues that Ghanaian indigenous language communication forms include embellishments and their accurate use presupposes an immense understanding of the language. Hence, indigenous languages cannot be adapted and appreciated wholesomely in the media space if aspects of it are downplayed.https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajct.v2i1.5decolonizationembellishmentsghanaindigenous language media |
| spellingShingle | Eric OPOKU MENSAH Caroline ABOAGYE DA-COSTA Decolonization of indigenous language media practice in Ghana: myth or reality? Arụmarụka decolonization embellishments ghana indigenous language media |
| title | Decolonization of indigenous language media practice in Ghana: myth or reality? |
| title_full | Decolonization of indigenous language media practice in Ghana: myth or reality? |
| title_fullStr | Decolonization of indigenous language media practice in Ghana: myth or reality? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decolonization of indigenous language media practice in Ghana: myth or reality? |
| title_short | Decolonization of indigenous language media practice in Ghana: myth or reality? |
| title_sort | decolonization of indigenous language media practice in ghana myth or reality |
| topic | decolonization embellishments ghana indigenous language media |
| url | https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajct.v2i1.5 |
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