BRITISH GHANAIANS: LOST IN TRANSLATION DOCUMENTARY. PAMELA SAKYI, BA COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA, BRUNEL.
The Ghanaian Diaspora in London is facing a Language Endangerment crisis. Language Endangerment occurs when a language is at risk of dying out because it’s speakers stop speaking it, or stop passing their language on to the next generations, instead they choose to communicate in a different language, such as English. Levels of fluency amongst some 2nd generation Ghanaians in London are at an all-time low. As a result many feel disconnected from their family in Ghana and also feel disconnected from their rich cultural heritage. British Ghanaians:
Lost In Translation explores this issue of Language Endangerment, Its root causes and what can be done to inspire a Ghanaian language fluency revival. The pressure to maintain the language and culture on this side of the Motherland, is further enhanced by a prevalent mind set in Ghana, that speaking English is more favourable than native Ghanaian languages. Recent migrants to the UK perpetuate this mindset by refusing to teach their children a Ghanaian language, preferring English. There are many documented accounts of children in Ghana being punished for
DISCOURSE: THE POWER OF LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION. // 63
