I’ve been in Ghana for approximately nine years and ten months (I’m not going to break down the days and minutes but I have it written
down somewhere). It’s been an experience. Most of it has been wonderful, while
others, let’s just say I wonder how come I’m still sane.
You’d think I would’ve learned the language by now. Well, my
friends, you’d be wrong. For those who don’t know, I was born in Ghana, raised
in the US, and came back to Ghana approximately… While I was in the US I lost all knowledge of
the language.
I had two strikes
against me when I returned to Ghana.
1. I mentioned that I grew up in the US and Americans are a bit,
let’s just say biased, about the best language in the world.
2. I don’t have an ear for languages. I struggled through Spanish
in high school. When I took introductory Spanish in college I used to annoy my
teacher with the question, “Como se dice (insert any and all English words).”
That’s “How do you say….”
The good part is that I can speak rudimentary Twi. Can I
hold a conversation that includes more than: How are you? Where is the bathroom?
How much is this? No. I have developed some favorite words, though and I’ll
teach you one.
Saa – It means
“really?” or “is that so?” or “hmmm”
A rather multi-functional word, kind of like “interesting.”
It’s no wonder I love the song Saa by Bisa Kdei so much. It
couldn’t be because the artist is on fire right now and he’s created a catchy dance-able tune. Please don’t ask me to translate the song because I can’t (not without making
stuff up).
Do you have a favorite non-English word?
