In the mind of every native in a country or community, the native language must be fluently spoken by the natives. In any case where a person is unable to either speak or write his or her native language, an issue arises necessitating the need to inquire what actually could cause such an incapability to express oneself in his or her local language.
The Ewe Language is spoken by the Anlos or Some people of Ghana. Even though Ewe speaking people are all over Ghana in various regions and beyond, they are based in the Volta Region especially. The people of Togo also speak Ewe but there is a kind of a bit difference in dialect and phonetics in how it is spoken. This difference is seen in some of the communities that the language is spoken but one thing surprising is that the writing is almost the same all across.
A little concern sometimes that seems quite disturbing to some of our elderly in the community is when some or our people are unable to speak the Ewe Language. They are regarded lightly as foreigners in a way even though they might bear local names. Surprising, in rare cases, some might not explain what the local names they bear mean. Having mentioned that it is something that happens at times, we will need to delve deeper to find out what the causes are for this occurrence which most of the people consider unhealthy.
What could make a native Ewe unable to speak the language
Reasons to be attributed to this incidence I think maybe what you are even contemplating to be the cause.
- Children born outside the region
Some couples may travel outside the region and settle in another location where the Ewe Language is not spoken. As they give birth to children over there, there is a high probability that the children will find it difficult speaking the native language. This move of which no one has control over is mostly one of the things because as the kids grow, the language of the locality in which they are born is what they grow to learn. Most of the few similar cases as this that I have heard of, the children after spending some years in a location outside of the Ewe speaking region, it is just obvious that they won't be able to speak the language.
But then ways and means need to be knitted to bridge this gap so these kids do not feel alienated when they come home.
- Parents inability to speak the language with their children
For children born outside of the region due to certain circumstances, the parents have that responsibility of teaching the wards how to speak the language from an early stage. Knowing this that the first person a child learns from is the mum, this is even confirmed to know that the first word a child learns to speak is "mama". When a child starts to speak, he or she will without doubt learn the local language spoken in his area of birth. However, failure on the part of the parents to teach the child how to speak the Ewe language is a contributing factor which is why some natives born outside of the region find it difficult to speak the language.
Why is this a concern or matter to discuss?
Our elderly always say that culture is unique and must be preserved. Language and I am talking of the local or native language is one cultural element that must be preserved across generations. For some elderly, it sounds disgraceful if a person born of either an Ewe mother or father is unable to speak even the native language. This expectation exists that we must cherish our culture, value or hold in high esteem our home and project it to the world in its uniqueness. It is one of the reasons why as a native, you need to speak the Ewe Language and if you don't, you must start learning it right away. Make plans to get used to simple expressions to lay a foundation for that.
The real thing is that home is sweet home, you have to appreciate your own first and then make others too appreciate the uniqueness in diversity.
Learning to speak Ewe Language can be done using various means since technology has made learning simple today. You can follow a Youtube channel dedicated to that and learn a great deal. Better still learning from someone who might be a friend fluent in speaking is also another powerful way to do that.
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