THE BUSINESS TRANSLATOR AKAN(also called TwD) A language of west Africa with several dialects, such as Fante, Akuepam Twi, Asante Twi. It is one of the national languages of Ghana and is spoken by over 10 million people Akan is a tone language. That means that the pitch of the voice used with each syllable is important, but there is no stress accent on a particular syllable. If the vowel is unmarked, it is a mid- tone. If there is a( above the vowel(examples: a e eio u then the syllable has a higher tone. If there is a()above the Also in Akan, consonants such as "n, "or"m "may count ag c vowel(examples: ae&iou), then the syllable has a lower tor syllables by themselves with their own tones you can listen to a sampleathttp:/lwwwunizhch/spwlafrling/aliakan/clickon Tune your ears to Akan or on one of the introductory lessons and you can listen to sentences that illustrate the differences in tones. You will need realjukebox or RealPlayer and speakers on your computer in order to do this Hello, nice to meet you Hei, aya anigye se mahyia wo Hay-ee, eh-yay ah-nee-jay seh mah-shee-ah woh I only speak English Meka ngyiresi brofo nkoa IMay-kah n-jee-ray-see braw-foh n-koh-ah I dont understand Mente as Mayn-tay ah-say-eh What is this? Yei ya dean? TY ay-ee yeh day-eh"? What is the time Mera no ab sen? IM-may-reh noh ah-baw seh"?
The BusinessTranslator 24 AKAN (also called TWI) A language of West Africa with several dialects, such as Fante, Akuepam Twi, Asante Twi. It is one of the national languages of Ghana and is spoken by over 10 million people. Akan is a tone language. That means that the pitch of the voice used with each syllable is important, but there is no stress accent on a particular syllable. If the vowel is unmarked, it is a midtone. If there is a ( ) above the vowel (examples: á é í ó ú), then the syllable has a higher tone. If there is a (`) above the vowel (examples: à è ì ò ù), then the syllable has a lower tone. Also, in Akan, consonants such as n or m may count as syllables by themselves with their own tones. You can listen to a sample at http://www.unizh.ch/spw/afrling/aliakan/. Click on Tune your ears to Akan or on one of the introductory lessons, and you can listen to sentences that illustrate the differences in tones. You will need RealJukebox or RealPlayer and speakers on your computer in order to do this. Hello, nice to meet you. Héi, y anígyé s máhyíá wó. [Háy-ee, eh-yáy ah-née-jáy séh máh-shée-áh wóh] I only speak English. Meká ngyirési br fó nkóá. [May-káh n-jee-ráy-see braw-fóh n-kóh-áh] I dont understand. Menté ásé . [Mayn-táy áh-sáy-éh] What is this? Yeí y dé n? [Yay-ée yeh dáy-éhn ?] What is the time? Mmér nó áb s n? [M-máy-réh nóh áh-baw séhn ?]
THE BUSINESS TRANSLATOR What is the date? anne ye da a e ts so s n? [Ehn-neh yeh dah ah eh-taw soh seh"? Where is the nearest toilet? agyanaibea a aba ha w hee? [Ah-jah-nah-ee-bay-ah ah eh-beh-ee shah waw shay? Where is the nearest hotel? Ah.hogyebea a abai ha wa hee? [Ah-shaw-shoh-jay-bay-ah ah eh-beh-ee shah waw shay? Where is the nearest airport? Ewiemhyai agyinaea a abai ha w hee? LEh-wee-ehm-sheh-ee ah-jee-nigh-eh ah eh-beh-ee shah waw shay? Where is the nearest hospital? ayaresabea a bel ha w. hee? [Ah-yah-ray-sah-bay-ah ah eh-beh-ee shah waw shay? Where is the nearest American restaurant? Amereka adidibea a sbei ha wa hee? [Ah-may-ray-kah ah-dee-dee-bay-ah ah eh-beh-ee shah waw shay? What do you need to make this work? edean na wobehia ama yei ay adwuma? LEh-day-eh" nah woh-bay-shee-ah ah-mah yay-ee ah-yeh ah jwoo-mah? Who is the decision maker Hwai ne pabfo. no? Shah-ee nay paw-baw-foh-aw noh? May I use the phone? MEtumi asre ahomatrofo no? IMeh-too-mee ahs-reh ah-shoh-mah-tr-oh-foh-aw noh?]
The Business Translator 25 What is the date? nn y dá á t só s n? [Ehn-néh yeh dáh áh eh-táw sóh séhn ?] Where is the nearest toilet? Agyanáíbéá á b i há w héé? [Ah-jah-náh-ée-báy-áh áh eh-béh-ee sháh waw sháy?] Where is the nearest hotel? Ah hogyébéá á b i há w héé? [Ah-shaw-shoh-jáy-báy-áh áh eh-béh-ee sháh waw sháy?] Where is the nearest airport? Ewiemhy í ágyínae á b i há w héé? [Eh-wee-ehm-shéh-ée áh-jée-nigh-éh áh eh-béh-ee sháh waw sháy?] Where is the nearest hospital? Ayaresábéá á b i há w héé? [Ah-yah-ray-sáh-báy-áh áh eh-béh-ee sháh waw sháy?] Where is the nearest American restaurant? Améréka adidíbéá á b i há w héé? [Ah-máy-ráy-kah ah-dee-dée-báy-áh áh eh-béh-ee sháh waw sháy?] What do you need to make this work? dé n na wóbéhíá ámá yeí áy adwúmá? [Eh-dáy-éhn nah wóh-báy-shée-áh áh-máh yay-ée áh-yéh ahjwóo-máh?] Who is the decision maker? Hwáí né p b fó nó? [Sháh-ée náy paw-báw-fóh-áw nóh?] May I use the phone ? M túmí ásr ahomatrófó nó? [Méh-tóo-mée áhs-réh ah-shoh-mah-tr-óh-fóh-áw nóh?]
THE BUSINESS TRANSLATOR May I use the computer? Matumi asre kompuuta no? IMeh-too-mee ahs-reh kawm-poo-tah noh? May i speak alone with my partner for a moment? MEtumi ne mehokafos nkoaa akasa mmretia bi? IMeh-too-mee nay may-shoh-kah-foh-aw n-koh-ah ah-kah-sah m-mreh-tee-ah bee? Let's make this deal Yamma nhyehyce nye adwuma nne TYehm-mah n-shay-sheh-eh n-yeh ah-jwoo-mah n-neh Aane [Ah-ah-nay] Daai Dah-bee Why Adan [Ah-deh"] ￡ tesen Leh-tay-se h] Mayb Hebi a Ay-ay-bee ah nk you May-dahs-sayI S gn here. Fa wo nsa hya asee w ha [Fah woh n-sah sheh ah-say waw shah]
The BusinessTranslator 26 May I use the computer? M túmí ásr k mpúúta nó? [Méh-tóo-mée áhs-réh kawm-póo-tah nóh?] May I speak alone with my partner for a moment? M túmí né mehókáfó nkóáá ákasá mmr tiá bí? [Méh-tóo-mée náy may-shóh-káh-fóh-áw n-kóh-áh áh-kah-sáh m-mreh-tee-áh bée?] Lets make this deal happen today. Y mmá nhyehy ny adwúmá nn . [Yéhm-máh n-shay-sheh-éh n-yéh ah-jwóo-máh n-néh] Yes Aáné [Ah-áh-náy] No Daabí [Dah-bée] Why Ád n [Áh-déh n] How tes n [eh-tay-sé hn ] Maybe Éebí á [Áy-ay-bée áh] Thank you. Medaase. [May-dahs-say] Sign here. Fa wo nsá hy àséé w há. [Fah woh n-sáh shéh àh-sáy waw shah]
THE BUSINESS TRANSLATOR Please andie mu [Ah-nee-dee-ay moo My name is Me din de May dee" day What is your name? Wo din de sen? [Woh dee" day seh? Where can I find an interpreter? Ebee na manya ntemgyinafo Eh-bay nah mahn-yah n-tehm-jee-nah-foh-aw? I need a hotel room Mehia ahohogye dan IMay-hee-ah ah-shaw-shoh-jay dah" I need water. (polite) (Wo andie mu), mehra nsuo [(Waw ah-nee-dee-ay moo), may-shee-ah n-soo-oh I need food (polite (W. andie mu), mehra duane [(Waw ah-nee-dee-ay moo), may-shee-ah ah-dwah-nayI I need sleep. (polite) (W. andie mu), mehra nna [(Waw ah-nee-dee-ay moo), may-shee-ah n-nah How much does the room cost for one night? dan bo anadwo baako bo ye sen? Eh-dahboh-aw ah-nah-jwoh bah-koh boh-aw yeh say" ? How much does the room cost for two nights? edan bos anadwo mien bos y sen? Eh-dah boh-aw ah-nah-jwoh mee-ay-noo boh-aw yeh say?
The Business Translator 27 Please. Anídíé mú. [Ah-née-dée-áy móo] My name is Me dín de [May déen day ] What is your name ? Wo dín de s n? [Woh déen day séhn ?] Where can I find an interpreter? béé na mányá nt mgyináfó ? [Eh-báy nah máhn-yáh n-tehm-jee-náh-fóh-áw?] I need a hotel room. Mehiá ah hogyé dán. [May-hee-áh ah-shaw-shoh-jáy dáhn ] I need water. (polite) (W anídíé mú), mehiá nsúó. [(Waw ah-née-dée-áy móo), may-shee-áh n-sóo-óh] I need food. (polite) (W anídíé mú), mehiá aduané. [(Waw ah-née-dée-áy móo), may-shee-áh ah-dwah-náy] I need sleep. (polite) (W anídíé mú), mehiá nná. [(Waw ah-née-dée-áy móo), may-shee-áh n-náh] How much does the room cost for one night? dán bó anadwó baakó bó y sén? [Eh-dáhn bóh-áw ah-nah-jwóh bah-kóh bóh-áw yeh sáyn ?] How much does the room cost for two nights? dán bó anadwó mienú bó y sén? [Eh-dáhn bóh-áw ah-nah-jwóh mee-ay-nóo bóh-áw yeh sáyn ?]
THE BUSINESS TRANSLATOR How much does the room cost for one week? dan bo. nawotwe baako bo yE sen? Eh-dahboh-aw nah-woh-chway bah-koh boh-aw yeh say ? I would like the room MEpe dari no IMeh-peh dah"noh] I would like the car Mapa teaseEnam(kaa)no IMeh-peh tay-ah-say-eh-nahm(kah-ah)noh I would not like the room Tempe dan no IMaym-peh dah"noh I would not like the car Mempa teaseEnam(kaa)no IMaym-peh tay-ah-say-eh-nahm(kah-ahnoh How do i get to..?(this is for asking directions to a place) MEyeden ak..? IMeh-yeh-deh"ah-kaw.? Please draw me a map Anidie mu, ye akwankyere nyinaso ma [Ah-nee-dee-ay moo, yeh ah-kwahn-chay-reh n-yee-nah-soh-aw mah mayl Good-bye Nante yie /baabaye INahn-tay yee-ay /bah-ah-bah-yayI Where can i rent a car? hee na matumi afam teaseanam(kaa)? LEh-shay nah meh-too-mee ah-fehm tay-ah-say-eh-nahm(kah-
The BusinessTranslator 28 How much does the room cost for one week? dán bó nawótwé baakó bó y sén? [Eh-dáhn bóh-áw nah-wóh-chwáy bah-kóh bóh-áw yeh sáyn ?] I would like the room. M p dán nó. [Méh-péh dáhn nóh] I would like the car. M p teasé nam (kaá) nó. [Méh-péh tay-ah-sáy-eh-nahm (kah-áh) nóh] I would not like the room. Mémp dán nó. [Máym-péh dáhn nóh] I would not like the car. Mémp teasé nam (kaá) nó. [Máym-péh tay-ah-sáy-eh-nahm (kah-áh) nóh] How do I get to ? (this is for asking directions to a place) M y d n ák ? [Méh-yéh-déhn áh-kaw .?] Please draw me a map. Anídíé mú, y akwankyer nyínasó má me. [Ah-née-dée-áy móo, yeh ah-kwahn-chay-réh n-yée-nah-sóh-áw máh may] Good-bye. Nante yíé / baábayé [Nahn-tay yée-áy / bah-áh-bah-yáy] Where can I rent a car? héé na m tumí áf m teasé nam (káa)? [Eh-sháy nah méh-too-mée áh-féhm tay-ah-sáy-eh-nahm (káhah)?]