ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Levels of Platinum Group Metals in Selected Species (Sarotherodon melanotheron, Chonophorus lateristriga, Macrobrachium vollenhovenii and Crassostrea tulipa) in Some Estuaries and Lagoons Along the Coast of Ghana

The use of some biota as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution has been demonstrated as particularly adequate due to their capacity of bioconcentration. This study evaluated the levels of platinum group metals (PGMs) in some selected species along the coastal belt of Ghana, using the neutron activation analysis (NAA) method. The result was processed to evaluate pollution indices in order to map the distribution of the metals in those species in the lagoons and estuaries along the costal belt of Ghana. The analysis showed significant levels of all PGMs in blackchin tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron Cichlidae), brown goby (Chonophorus lateristriga Gobiidae), shrimp (Macrobrachium vollenhovenii Palaemonidae), and mangrove oysters (Crassostrea tulipa Ostreidae) in the lagoons and river Pra estuary. However, the oysters showed an elevated mean concentration of 0.13 μg/g (dry weight) Pd. From the pollution indices, most of the sampling sites registered mean contamination factor (CF) values between 1.20 and 3.00 for Pt, Pd, and Rh. The pollution load index (PLI) conducted also gave an average pollution index between 0.79 and 2.37, indicating progressive contamination levels. The results revealed that anthropogenic sources, industrial and hospital effluent, etc., together with vehicular emissions, could be the contributing factors to the deposition of PGMs along the Ghanaian coas

Source: UEW
Leveraging Social Media Platforms in Marketing Library Services In Ghanaian Universities

With the continuous improvement of library services across the globe owing to automation, technological advancement, and growth in student population, rapid access to social media (SM) platforms has become a vital part of keeping present and would-be users well-versed about academic library service. The study brings to bear on the use of SM platforms in promoting library services. Using the survey approach, one hundred and seventy-six (176) library users of the University of Ghana (UG), Library System (LS) were selected to provide primary data via questionnaires. All respondents were selected through simple random sampling. The SPSS was used to generate Pearson correlation, mean, and standard deviation results. The results revealed that the effectiveness of SM platforms has asignificant positive relationship with users� perception and its usefulness. The deployment of SM as a marketing tool in university libraries, marketing library resources, and information centrescan be promoted greatly. Moreover, few challenges encountered by library users in using the SM include lack of privacy, the confidentiality of information, power cut or shortage, and inadequate training opportunities for the UGLS staff among others. The study presents opportunities useful for professional librarians. � 2020

Source: UEW
Leveraging supply chain visibility to drive customer-oriented performance The role of supply chain collaboration and supply chain learning

The study examines the impact of supply chain visibility on customer-oriented performance in Ghana's manufacturing firms, focusing on the roles of supply chain collaboration and supply chain learning. The Resource-Based View (RBV) theory and the Organizational Learning Theory (OLT) guide the research. RBV posits that firms gain competitive advantage through unique resources, such as supply chain visibility, enabling them to effectively meet customer needs. OLT emphasizes that organizations that foster learning from supply chain activities are better equipped to adapt and improve performance. The study adopts a quantitative research approach, utilizing structured questionnaires to collect data from 152 manufacturing firms in the Greater Accra region. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess the relationships between supply chain visibility, collaboration, learning, and customer-oriented performance. The findings show that supply chain visibility positively affects customer-oriented performance, particularly when mediated by collaboration. Firms that engage in supply chain collaboration can leverage real-time visibility to improve customer satisfaction, product quality, and delivery timelines. Moreover, supply chain learning plays a moderating role, enhancing firms' ability to use supply chain visibility effectively to adapt to market dynamics and customer needs. The study recommends that manufacturing firms enhance supply chain visibility through technological investments and foster collaborative relationships with their supply chain partners. Additionally, firms should encourage continuous learning within their supply chains to optimize customer-oriented performance. Policymakers should create frameworks that promote collaboration and learning in supply chain networks to drive competitiveness in the manufacturing sector.

Source: UEW
Lexical and grammatical errors in students’ writings A case study of Obakrowa MA Basic School

This dissertation is about grammatical and lexical errors analysis among the Obakrowa M/A J.H.S. his dissertation is qualitative and it employs case study as its design. The schools and the participants were purposively selected. The study identified that the lexical errors in the students’ writing were due to homophone problems and semantic lexical errors. The grammatical errors identified were agreement errors, tense errors, singular-plural (number) errors, prepositional errors, and article errors. The study also found that the most frequently committed grammatical error was tense errors followed by agreement errors. The implications of these findings to the teaching of English writing are that teachers where possible should have understanding of both the L1 and L2 of the students and teachers should explicitly teach for transfer, have adequate knowledge of how to identify students’ writing errors, and use effective teaching strategies to improve students’ English writing. Additionally, teachers should serve as models of using appropriate English for students to emulate and also create a conducive classroom environment for students to participate in class activities. Lastly, teachers should create more opportunities for students to write. Commented [u1]: University of Education,Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh

Source: UEW
Lexical bundles in political communication an analysis of selected manifestoes of two political parties in Ghana

This study explored how lexical bundles are used in political communication using the manifestoes of two major political parties in Ghana, which are the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The study investigated the kinds of lexical bundles used in the manifestoes, their similarities and differences in frequency and use, their structural types employed and the communicative functions of the lexical bundles in the manifestoes. Guided by the Structural Taxonomy and Functional Taxonomy of Lexical Bundles espoused by Biber et al. (2004), this study employed a qualitative approach and relied on document analysis to gather data for the study. Two manifestoes, one from each political party, were sampled as corpus for the study. Findings from the study showed that 14 three- word lexical bundles and 11 four- word lexical bundles were found in the corpus. The study revealed that these bundles were used in large frequencies to express ability of the political parties to deliver on their political promises to their electorate. Out of 17 structural types of lexical bundles, only 4 were found in the corpus. Out of these 4 structural types, prepositional phrases were found to have the most examples in the corpus. The findings also revealed that all three functional types of lexical bundles were present in the corpus. Referential expressions were the most used functional type from the corpus, followed by discourse organizers, and stance bundles. Some examples of referential expressions that were used include ‘the next four years’, ‘the next NPP/NDC government’ and ‘in this administration’. The study concludes that the few examples of lexical bundles in both manifestoes show that text producers do not have an extensive knowledge of lexical bundles and how they are used to advance discourses. It is recommended that the writers of the manifestoes incorporate more lexical bundles into their texts to improve on the communicative features of their texts.

Source: UEW
Lexical variation in the Ghanaian sign language and its effects on the language development of the hearing impaired

This work focuses on the lexical variations in the Ghanaian Sign Language with emphasis on the distinctions between these variations and their effects on the language development of the Deaf. An earlier study investigated by Schembri et al, (2013) focused on the regional lexical variations for colour, names of countries, numbers, and United Kingdom place names. These were elicited as part of the Britain Sign Language (BSL) Corpus project. The results showed that School location and language background were significant predators of lexical variation. The pre SHS class of the Senior High School for the Deaf exhibits lots of lexical variation in the Ghanaian Sign during the English class discussions. This results in loss of time in agreeing to adopt a more formal form of the variant. Data was collected over a year period through the qualitative design approach after which two participants were filmed while signing the variants. Analysis was based on the framework spearheaded by Labov, (1960). The results confirmed that lexical variation are determined by social factors such as school location, age, gender, language background of the signers and the socio-economic status of the Deaf students were predator that contributed the variation. The researcher therefore suggests standardization of the sign language so that its structures can be appropriately defined and used a formal medium of instruction in Deaf schools. Sign language should be made compulsory in mainstream schools so that the Deaf can have more inputs and language models to help them build strong L1 base.

Source: UEW
Lexical variations in the Ewe language spoken in Ho

The study looks at the lexical variations that were noticed in the Ewe language that is spoken in the Ho community. It sets out to investigate the variants that were noticed in the speech of the indigenes as well as that of the immigrants from around the capital of Volta Region, Ho. To analyse the data, Labov’s Variationist theory of 1996, as well as Giles’ speech accommodation theory of 1973, were brought to bear. Data was collected from indigenous settlements and settlers who found themselves in the region of the study. The qualitative research approach as well as purposive sampling techniques were used. The data were obtained by the use of observation and interviews as well as the analysis of recorded radio programmes. Investigations revealed that there is a significant degree of regional and social variations in the Ewe spoken in Ho which has significantly resulted in the use of diverse linguistic features in everyday language. These variations manifested as lexical, phonological, and grammatical differences existing among all the dialects which seem to be in contact within the speech community. Among the three dialects, some lexicons are common to all three dialects, some are common to only two of the three dialects while others are distinct from each other. Interestingly, the study confirms that the dialectal backgrounds of language users within the speech community do not affect the issue of understanding each other as the Eedome, Aŋlↄ and Tↄŋu dialects can be considered as being mutually intelligible.

Source: UEW
A lexico-stylistic analysis of selected political speeches of John Mahama

The study examines how the English language has been used by President John Dramani Mahama in three of his political speeches. The main focus of the study is to analyse the use of lexical items and the functions they play in political discourse from the stylistic perspective. The Linguistic and Stylistic Categories by Leech & Short (2007) and the Ideational metafunction in the Systemic Functional Grammar Theory by Halliday and Matthiessen (2014) are applied as theoretical frameworks. A purely descriptive and interpretative approach is used in analysing the lexical items in terms of their frequency and meaning making. The study finds out that nouns are predominantly used to refer to various concrete and abstract plans and policies that the government wishes to carry out, while verbs, adjectives and adverbs are used respectively to indicate the kind of positive actions that are required to accomplish the plans and policies, give in-depth description of these plans and policies in order to make them comprehensive and to indicate the manner in which the government wishes to carry out these plans and policies. The study also reveals that Mahama uses simple vocabulary in order to reach his audience from different levels and backgrounds whereas the cognitive domains analysis reveals Mahama’s background as a historian who believes in the political ideologies of Nkrumah.

Source: UEW
Life and works of Augustine Bugase

This thesis is a biographical study of Augustine Bugase and a formal musical analysis of one of his works, entitled The Mass of Saint Maximilian. It focused on Bugase's biographical details, his sources of inspiration, compositional resources, and the relevance of the compositions. The study employed qualitative and lifehistory methods, including purposive sampling and semi-structured interview schedules, direct observation, and document analyses. The Mass was analysed using the composer-composition model developed by the researcher. The findings revealed that Bugase trained as a composer in the erstwhile National Academy of Music and spent his entire music career in the North of Ghana composing, teaching and directing choirs. Among the many circumstances that inspired his compositions, the story of the martyrdom of Maximilian Kolbe stimulated the composition of the Mass of Saint Maximilian. His compositional style features the use of indigenous language, call and response, imitations, sequences, and interlocking thirds, which are a synthesis of Western and African compositional techniques. The study recommends that Bugase's biographical information be made available to the Ghanaian and international Catholic communities as a source of motivation for young people, particularly those in the North, to emulate him. Furthermore, budding composers should study Bugase's compositional style and apply it to their compositions.

Source: UEW
A linguistic analysis of inscriptions on shops in Kumasi

The study of signs in public sphere either in writing or in symbolic forms is termed as linguistic landscape. Landry and Bourhis (1997) for the first time coined and defined the notion as “the language of public road signs, advertising billboards, street names, place names, commercial shop signs and public signs on government buildings combines to form the linguistic landscape of a given territory, region or urban agglomeration” (p.22). The intention behind this research work is to examine shop signs in Kumasi, the capital city of Ashanti Region because it is one of the most popular cities in the country and it has not yet been explored adequately. These shop signs are entirely collected from Kronom to Kedjetia stretch of road, Kumasi. The signs on the selected shops were captured using a modern/standard digital camera after a thorough interview had been conducted, one-on-one with the shop owners/keepers. In addition, the approach to the study is qualitative in design. The study attempts to highlight themes featured in the inscriptions on the shops, the intention behind their usage by the shop owners/keepers and functions of the shop signs at the chosen research area. The languages featured in the inscriptions on the shops included; the in-group language, Akan (Twi), Ga, Ewe, Fante, and the “omniscient” global language, English. The findings proved that English (been the global language) is a dominant language but it was realized that the in-group language, Akan (Twi) was competing with it. That shows how serious the ethnic group (speakers of that language) cherish their language. The study in addition analyzed themes identified to be dominant in the inscriptions used. It was established that theme of religion/faith was the most dominant theme because the chosen research area is a place where people pay much attention to their object of worship, God. The study further concludes that through the inscriptions featured on the shops at the chosen research site, shop owners/keepers are able to express and share their experiences, sentiments, thoughts and opinions to others/the general public

Source: UEW
A linguistic analysis of inscriptions on shops in Kumasi

The study of signs in public sphere either in writing or in symbolic forms is termed as linguistic landscape. Landry and Bourhis (1997) for the first time coined and defined the notion as “the language of public road signs, advertising billboards, street names, place names, commercial shop signs and public signs on government buildings combines to form the linguistic landscape of a given territory, region or urban agglomeration” (p.22). The intention behind this research work is to examine shop signs in Kumasi, the capital city of Ashanti Region because it is one of the most popular cities in the country and it has not yet been explored adequately. These shop signs are entirely collected from Kronom to Kedjetia stretch of road, Kumasi. The signs on the selected shops were captured using a modern/standard digital camera after a thorough interview had been conducted, one-on-one with the shop owners/keepers. In addition, the approach to the study is qualitative in design. The study attempts to highlight themes featured in the inscriptions on the shops, the intention behind their usage by the shop owners/keepers and functions of the shop signs at the chosen research area. The languages featured in the inscriptions on the shops included; the in-group language, Akan (Twi), Ga, Ewe, Fante, and the “omniscient” global language, English. The findings proved that English (been the global language) is a dominant language but it was realized that the in-group language, Akan (Twi) was competing with it. That shows how serious the ethnic group (speakers of that language) cherish their language. The study in addition analyzed themes identified to be dominant in the inscriptions used. It was established that theme of religion/faith was the most dominant theme because the chosen research area is a place where people pay much attention to their object of worship, God. The study further concludes that through the inscriptions featured on the shops at the chosen research site, shop owners/keepers are able to express and share their experiences, sentiments, thoughts and opinions to others/the general public.

Source: UEW
A linguistic analysis of loanwords in Anufo

The study was to linguistically analyze loanwords in Anufo. The study set forth to assess the kinds /types of words that are borrowed into Anufo. The study was again, to determine the phonological and morphological processes that affect loanwords in Anufo. The research approach used was qualitative and the design is case study. The data collection strategies used for the study were interview, observation and documents. The theoretical framework used for the study is Basic Linguistic Theory (Dixon 1997). The study established that Anufo has historically and socially heavily borrowed words from the three main languages, English, Likpakpaln and Akan, to fill lexical gaps. Apart from nouns, the main types of words that are borrowed into Anufo are adjectives, verbs, adverbs and conjunctions. Phonologically, it came out that Anufo has twenty-seven consonant sounds while English has twenty four. This study is distinct from others because it looks at loanwords from three different languages: English, Likpakpaln and Twi. Borrowing in Anufo is distinct from other Ghanaian languages such as Likpakpaln. This is because Likpakpaln has closed syllable types like that of English language. Anufo syllables are of the open type therefore, when the borrowed word has a closed syllable, it has to be repaired in order to be nativized. The study contributes greatly to the literature of loanwords because it has been realized that no vowel apart from /a/ can occur at word initial position of Anufo. So, when a borrowed word into Anufo has a vowel other than /a/ at its initial position needs to go through some repair strategies in order for such a word to be nativised. A semantic and a comparative study of loanwords are recommended in order to find out differences and similarities of loanword adaptation strategies in the Ghanaian languages.

Source: UEW
A linguistic analysis of stance markers in Akan

In our everyday activity, language plays a tremendous part in our daily interaction with each other. Arguing, taking position and making judgment happens daily in our interaction with one another. The need for stance expression and making the position of a speaker clear about what they are discussing is well documented in the literature (Biber, 2006; Kelly & Bazerman, 2003; Hyland, 2005; 2008; Molino, 2010; Myers, 1989; Williams, 2006). This thesis examined the stance markers used in Akan discourse. (Akan is a Niger-Congo Kwa language, widely spoken by both natives and non-natives in Ghana, and part of Cote d‟Ivoire). Using a qualitative case study, data were collected from 450 purposively sampled native speakers of Asante Twi at social gatherings, class discussions, and focus group discussion in the Abrepo community for textual analysis. The analysis revealed that Akan native speakers use phrases and clauses as the structural patterns to produce stance markers. Again the types of stances used by the speakers in their conversations were found to be epistemic, attitude, evidential, style and deontic. It was also discovered that the markers were used to express certainty, doubt, imprecision and other functions such asattitude, evidence, style and deontic in conversation. Based on the results, it is argued that it is important to take note of what to and how to use stance marking as they help in taking position and making judgments about issues.

Source: UEW
Linguistic Surrogacy with Minimal Semantics among the Dagomba of Ghana

This paper discusses critical questions on the processing of non-native surrogate languages of the Dagbamba (Dagomba) of Ghana. The Dagbamba use the fiddle, talking drum and double bell to encode speech in Hausa, Akan and other languages they do not speak. Fiddling and talking drums are integral to their festivals, funerals, the installation of chiefs and other cultural events. These instruments are used to entertain, praise, and send messages ranging from daybreak notifications to mobilizing people for war. The surrogate language they produce is a specialized language, interpreted mainly by people deeply rooted in their culture. It indicates nobility and statesmanship. While the performers and their patrons do not understand Akan or Hausa, they process and communicate with Akan and Hausa surrogate languages. The maintenance of the languages of performance is part of the practitioners' desire to preserve the cultural heritage of Dagbamba. This raises questions about the acquisition of these surrogate languages, the level of accuracy of production and comprehension, the role of music in the processing and the implications of these for linguistic theory. These questions are discussed on the basis of data from recorded interviews of talking drummers and fiddlers. The overarching goal is to highlight the gaps in our understanding of language processing that surface in the study of surrogate language, when processing takes place with a poverty of grammatical content. � Hudu.

Source: UEW