Kingsley Cyril Mintah | University Of Ghana, Accra,Legon (original) (raw)
Uploads
Papers by Kingsley Cyril Mintah
Social sciences & humanities open, 2024
Considering the recent anti-imperial sentiments that have inspired several agitations in the medi... more Considering the recent anti-imperial sentiments that have inspired several agitations in the media landscape of Francophone African countries, the study examines the existence or otherwise of such sentiments in Ghana's media landscape through the media's publications about the death and burial of Queen Elizabeth II. It explores the attitude portrayed by the media through their publications to understand the current political relationship between Ghana and Britain. Using the linguistic Appraisal System's Attitude as a tool for analysis, the study, selecting fifteen print and radio media organisations in Ghana, examines data about the death and burial of the Queen. The study finds that the British monarch and her affiliates are favourably presented in the affect, judgement and appreciation systems of evaluation and considers this presentation as a demonstration of solidarity between the nations. It concludes that Ghana, and by extension, African Anglophone countries, shows less hostility towards the former colonial authority.
Discourse and Interaction, 2024
The study of research abstracts has gained significant scholarly attention as part of genre studi... more The study of research abstracts has gained significant scholarly attention as part of genre studies due to the communicative importance of abstracts in constructing academic knowledge. This study contributes to the discussion by examining the structural organization and lexico-grammatical features of ninety (90) postgraduate theses abstracts in the disciplines of English Language studies, Literature studies, and Linguistics studies (Ghanaian Languages). The abstracts were purposively sampled from the graduate theses of departments of the School of Languages, the University of Ghana. The data was analyzed using Hyland’s (2000) genre model of research abstracts. The findings reveal that abstracts of English Language studies and Linguistics studies (Ghanaian Languages) are often informative while Literature studies abstracts are more indicative and possess distinct structuring of the moves. The Purpose move (M2) remains obligatory and the Conclusion move (M5) is optional across the disciplines. Also, some lexico-grammatical features in the linguistic choices of scholars in the three disciplines point to evidential differences that mark informative abstracts as varying from indicative abstracts. The study concludes that identifying the discipline-specific function of the abstracts may be the best means to account for variations in abstracts of varying disciplines and calls for the deliberate enculturation of academics into discipline-oriented research writing skills to improve the presentation of research ideas in abstracts.
Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 2024
Considering the recent anti-imperial sentiments that have inspired several agitations in the medi... more Considering the recent anti-imperial sentiments that have inspired several agitations in the media landscape of Francophone African countries, the study examines the existence or otherwise of such sentiments in Ghana's media landscape through the media's publications about the death and burial of Queen Elizabeth II. It explores the attitude portrayed by the media through their publications to understand the current political relationship between Ghana and Britain. Using the linguistic Appraisal System's Attitude as a tool for analysis, the study, selecting fifteen print and radio media organisations in Ghana, examines data about the death and burial of the Queen. The study finds that the British monarch and her affiliates are favourably presented in the affect, judgement and appreciation systems of evaluation and considers this presentation as a demonstration of solidarity between the nations. It concludes that Ghana, and by extension, African Anglophone countries, shows less hostility towards the former colonial authority.
Newspaper Research Journal, 2024
The indices for the classification of newspapers have often focused on agenda-setting roles, econ... more The indices for the classification of newspapers have often focused on agenda-setting roles, economic position and size of newspapers, among others. Concerning newspapers in Africa, Moehler and Singh (2011) and Hasty (2005) assert that the only index for the classification of newspapers is ownership. The study, therefore, focuses on the patterns of the attributive mode of the transitivity system of Systemic Functional Grammar to propose a linguistic alternative index for classifying newspapers. The findings indicate that the patterns of attributions that occur are significant and viable enough to classify newspapers.
Abstract This paper adds to the literature on the phonology of Ghanaian English. The paper focus... more Abstract
This paper adds to the literature on the phonology of Ghanaian English. The paper focuses on describing the
assimilation process of palatalization which is a feature in the coarticulation of speech sounds in a language variety.
The assumption that non-native varieties of English are distinct and unique at all levels of language analysis is used
as approach in observing the occurrence of palatalization processes in the data which consisted of informal speech in
focus group discussion, and formal reading of word lists and a passage. The study shows that generally place-changing palatalization processes like velar softening, spirantization and coronal palatalizations are established features in Ghanaian English though coronal palatalization of the voiced alveolar stop [d] to the voiced palato-alveolar affricate [ʤ] does not occur. Also, yod-insertion palatalization is greatly influenced by the length of the following high vowel. Yod-insertion palatalization frequently occurs with the labials [f], [m], and [b] and the alveolars [t] and [d]. Nevertheless, the labial [p], the alveolars [l], [s] and [n] and the velar stops [k] and [g] are hardly palatalized in Ghanaian English. Significantly, palatalization is a local assimilation feature which tends to be regressive in direction. Word boundary palatalization frequently occurs among fricatives.
Keywords: assimilation; palatalization; yod-insertion; spirantization; coronals; Ghanaian English
ABSTRACT: This paper presents an examination of linguistic change among students of the English D... more ABSTRACT: This paper presents an examination of linguistic change among students of the
English Department of University of Ghana in their use of the velar nasal. Working with the
Labovian paradigm of sociolinguistic investigations, this paper focuses on the use of the velar
nasal /ŋ/ and any of its variants /ŋg/, /n/ or /ng/ in the readings of the students as influenced by
social variables like sex, social status and ethnicity. The paper’s special interest in the use of the
velar nasal among the Ghanaian students is premised on the fact that scholarly works on
Ghanaian English suggest the nasal velar is hardly realized in Ghanaian English hence the
familiarization of students to the sound will elicit linguistic change. The investigation is carried
out by analyzing the recordings of readings of the students. This paper establishes three claims
in its findings: females use higher frequency of standard forms than their male counterparts at
all levels of attention because their attitude towards the use of the prestigious variant; though
the higher class (Class 1) use the prestigious variant in casual speech, the lower class tend to
respond to linguistic change faster and higher to show overt prestige especially when being
observed; and ethnicity largely influence the use of a prestigious form as an ethnic group may
engage in a linguistic change to a prestigious code to assert their superiority above their others.
Social sciences & humanities open, 2024
Considering the recent anti-imperial sentiments that have inspired several agitations in the medi... more Considering the recent anti-imperial sentiments that have inspired several agitations in the media landscape of Francophone African countries, the study examines the existence or otherwise of such sentiments in Ghana's media landscape through the media's publications about the death and burial of Queen Elizabeth II. It explores the attitude portrayed by the media through their publications to understand the current political relationship between Ghana and Britain. Using the linguistic Appraisal System's Attitude as a tool for analysis, the study, selecting fifteen print and radio media organisations in Ghana, examines data about the death and burial of the Queen. The study finds that the British monarch and her affiliates are favourably presented in the affect, judgement and appreciation systems of evaluation and considers this presentation as a demonstration of solidarity between the nations. It concludes that Ghana, and by extension, African Anglophone countries, shows less hostility towards the former colonial authority.
Discourse and Interaction, 2024
The study of research abstracts has gained significant scholarly attention as part of genre studi... more The study of research abstracts has gained significant scholarly attention as part of genre studies due to the communicative importance of abstracts in constructing academic knowledge. This study contributes to the discussion by examining the structural organization and lexico-grammatical features of ninety (90) postgraduate theses abstracts in the disciplines of English Language studies, Literature studies, and Linguistics studies (Ghanaian Languages). The abstracts were purposively sampled from the graduate theses of departments of the School of Languages, the University of Ghana. The data was analyzed using Hyland’s (2000) genre model of research abstracts. The findings reveal that abstracts of English Language studies and Linguistics studies (Ghanaian Languages) are often informative while Literature studies abstracts are more indicative and possess distinct structuring of the moves. The Purpose move (M2) remains obligatory and the Conclusion move (M5) is optional across the disciplines. Also, some lexico-grammatical features in the linguistic choices of scholars in the three disciplines point to evidential differences that mark informative abstracts as varying from indicative abstracts. The study concludes that identifying the discipline-specific function of the abstracts may be the best means to account for variations in abstracts of varying disciplines and calls for the deliberate enculturation of academics into discipline-oriented research writing skills to improve the presentation of research ideas in abstracts.
Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 2024
Considering the recent anti-imperial sentiments that have inspired several agitations in the medi... more Considering the recent anti-imperial sentiments that have inspired several agitations in the media landscape of Francophone African countries, the study examines the existence or otherwise of such sentiments in Ghana's media landscape through the media's publications about the death and burial of Queen Elizabeth II. It explores the attitude portrayed by the media through their publications to understand the current political relationship between Ghana and Britain. Using the linguistic Appraisal System's Attitude as a tool for analysis, the study, selecting fifteen print and radio media organisations in Ghana, examines data about the death and burial of the Queen. The study finds that the British monarch and her affiliates are favourably presented in the affect, judgement and appreciation systems of evaluation and considers this presentation as a demonstration of solidarity between the nations. It concludes that Ghana, and by extension, African Anglophone countries, shows less hostility towards the former colonial authority.
Newspaper Research Journal, 2024
The indices for the classification of newspapers have often focused on agenda-setting roles, econ... more The indices for the classification of newspapers have often focused on agenda-setting roles, economic position and size of newspapers, among others. Concerning newspapers in Africa, Moehler and Singh (2011) and Hasty (2005) assert that the only index for the classification of newspapers is ownership. The study, therefore, focuses on the patterns of the attributive mode of the transitivity system of Systemic Functional Grammar to propose a linguistic alternative index for classifying newspapers. The findings indicate that the patterns of attributions that occur are significant and viable enough to classify newspapers.
Abstract This paper adds to the literature on the phonology of Ghanaian English. The paper focus... more Abstract
This paper adds to the literature on the phonology of Ghanaian English. The paper focuses on describing the
assimilation process of palatalization which is a feature in the coarticulation of speech sounds in a language variety.
The assumption that non-native varieties of English are distinct and unique at all levels of language analysis is used
as approach in observing the occurrence of palatalization processes in the data which consisted of informal speech in
focus group discussion, and formal reading of word lists and a passage. The study shows that generally place-changing palatalization processes like velar softening, spirantization and coronal palatalizations are established features in Ghanaian English though coronal palatalization of the voiced alveolar stop [d] to the voiced palato-alveolar affricate [ʤ] does not occur. Also, yod-insertion palatalization is greatly influenced by the length of the following high vowel. Yod-insertion palatalization frequently occurs with the labials [f], [m], and [b] and the alveolars [t] and [d]. Nevertheless, the labial [p], the alveolars [l], [s] and [n] and the velar stops [k] and [g] are hardly palatalized in Ghanaian English. Significantly, palatalization is a local assimilation feature which tends to be regressive in direction. Word boundary palatalization frequently occurs among fricatives.
Keywords: assimilation; palatalization; yod-insertion; spirantization; coronals; Ghanaian English
ABSTRACT: This paper presents an examination of linguistic change among students of the English D... more ABSTRACT: This paper presents an examination of linguistic change among students of the
English Department of University of Ghana in their use of the velar nasal. Working with the
Labovian paradigm of sociolinguistic investigations, this paper focuses on the use of the velar
nasal /ŋ/ and any of its variants /ŋg/, /n/ or /ng/ in the readings of the students as influenced by
social variables like sex, social status and ethnicity. The paper’s special interest in the use of the
velar nasal among the Ghanaian students is premised on the fact that scholarly works on
Ghanaian English suggest the nasal velar is hardly realized in Ghanaian English hence the
familiarization of students to the sound will elicit linguistic change. The investigation is carried
out by analyzing the recordings of readings of the students. This paper establishes three claims
in its findings: females use higher frequency of standard forms than their male counterparts at
all levels of attention because their attitude towards the use of the prestigious variant; though
the higher class (Class 1) use the prestigious variant in casual speech, the lower class tend to
respond to linguistic change faster and higher to show overt prestige especially when being
observed; and ethnicity largely influence the use of a prestigious form as an ethnic group may
engage in a linguistic change to a prestigious code to assert their superiority above their others.