English in Ghana

English in West Africa is present in different forms. There is a general pidgin form, known as West African Pidgin English, which is used as a basilect (most vernacular) form in countries like Ghana and Nigeria. There are also more acrolectal (more formal) varieties which belong to the set of New Englishes, non-native forms of English which have become established as independent varieties in countries which were formerly colonies of England. New English in Ghana is characterised by such features as the lack of syllable-final /r/, no vowel length distinctions, no diphthongisation of mid vowels, e.g. go [go], take [tek], and a general tendency to use syllable-timing (more or less equal length for all syllables in words, whether stressed or unstressed).

   Sample sound file