I'm disappointed to say the least. Some parents just complain for Africa on something they have no iota of knowledge about.

A director in one of my schools called me and said one parent was complaining that the child no longer speaks diction, that who is the phonics teacher. I laughed and tried to explain what the problem is.

Now, when I first got there (two years ago), they were using the Ghanaian diction where they pronounce " chech" instead of the British diction which says /t͡ʃɜːt͡ʃ/ and sounds like " choach"

They say "woteh" ( Ghanaian) instead ofˈ/wɔːtə/ which sounds like " woetur" and "seh" instead of /sɜː/ which sounds like "soe". I wish I could record these pronunciations so you guys can hear the correct sounds.
So, I taught them the British diction and told them to stop using the Ghanaian diction as that is not the British pronunciation. Though switching to the right diction has been a bit challenging for them but so far they have been doing very well.

Now, because the parents no longer hear home-wek they are now complaining that the children are not doing diction. Meanwhile these parents don't know the difference between these two dictions and don't even know the right diction but are complaining the children are no longer using it.

I told her to the best of my knowledge, they are using the right diction and I can't start teaching them Ghanaian diction to please the parents. If they cant understand the British diction, then too bad, there's nothing I can do. And the director admitted that it's true, before I joined them a Ghanaian was their diction teacher.

Is it proper to let them continue using the Ghanaian diction or continue teaching British diction?

Please do all that you can to wean them off that Ghana diction. GOD will reward your effort.








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joseandgreat:
Please do all that you can to wean them off that Ghana diction. GOD will reward your effort.

My dear, Ive done that and the children are beginning to pick, though it's been a huge struggle switching to the British diction but they are better off than when I joined them. All the parents want to hear is " wek" "benene" and those bad diction they are used to and the implication of this bad pronunciation is, when it's time for transcription they start transcribing the wrong thing because transcriptions are based on pronunciation and if the pronunciation is not correct it will defeat the whole purpose.

Another thing is the children are shy to use the right diction for fear of being mocked but I always encourage them to use it and damn whoever is mocking them. That is another aspect of the challenge I'm having.

Thanks for your contribution.
I appreciate.

Blessedmercy8:


My dear, Ive done that and the children are beginning to pick though it's been a huge struggle picking the British diction but they are better off than when I joined them but all these parents want to hear is " wek" "benene" and those bad diction they are used to and the implicationbofbthis bad pronunciation is when it's time for transcription they start transcribing the wrong thing because transcriptions are based on pronunciation and if the pronunciation is not correct it will defeat the whole purpose.

Another thing is the children are shy to use the right diction for fear of being mocked but I always encourage them to use and damn whoever is mocking them. That is another aspect of the challenge I'm having.

Thanks for your contribution.
I appreciate.

Well done, it is when I hear them pronounce "docter" and "hair" instead of "her" that really makes me wonder.

To help them overcome the fear of being mocked, acknowledge all the children that are doing well in front of the class.
Let them know that you are going to be doing that weekly, "bringing the best and consistent diction speakers out in front of the class" for a round of applause or some kind of reward in front of the whole class, trust me in no time, they will all want to belong, especially if the classmates they consider "popular" are part of these "diction group"
I trust you get what I mean?

I also hope those kids are well versed in their native languages .
Orisirisi.
Diction indeed.
If your child grows up watching American movies,it should be easy for them.My son switches from Naija English to American English easily and finally to Igbo at home.

Ulunne777:
I also hope those kids are well versed in their native languages .
Orisirisi.

That's none of my business. It's the duty of their parents to teach them their native language.
Mine is to teach them the right diction in the English language. Not their native language.

That’s how my aunt will be confusing her only four years old boy that it is “warrer” instead of “water.

Stupid post, so British diction is the proper one, while the Ghana own is wrong


Shame, same way they told us speaking our mother tongue in primary and secondary school was wrong and they tagged it “vernacular “

joseandgreat:
Please do all that you can to wean them off that Ghana diction. GOD will reward your effort.

I don't know why I find this funny

Blessedmercy8:


My dear, Ive done that and the children are beginning to pick, though it's been a huge struggle switching to the British diction but they are better off than when I joined them. All the parents want to hear is " wek" "benene" and those bad diction they are used to and the implication of this bad pronunciation is, when it's time for transcription they start transcribing the wrong thing because transcriptions are based on pronunciation and if the pronunciation is not correct it will defeat the whole purpose.

Another thing is the children are shy to use the right diction for fear of being mocked but I always encourage them to use it and damn whoever is mocking them. That is another aspect of the challenge I'm having.

Thanks for your contribution.
I appreciate.

Weldon dear, u are doing wonderfully well, i don't fancy that their Ghanian English, it sounds funny to me, but if the school insist that you go back to statues quo, please do for the sake of your job. But those parents should be thanking you instead of complaining.

@Op Where's ur school located at? we need to come and arrest all of you

Ghana no dey speak the correct English...

Gadafii:
Stupid post, so British diction is the proper one, while the Ghana own is wrong


Shame, same way they told us speaking our mother tongue in primary and secondary school was wrong and they tagged it “vernacular “

Ever since you join nairaland .. you never contribute better thing... So so rubbish

Ghana kwa...

I went to da horspeetar,I saw so much bled on da flair...

Werey Ghana English

I hate that diction nonsense

The thing always sound somehow to my ear..

I hate that phonics nonsense the schools are always forcing on the children. They're just mispronouncing words and they're calling it phonics.

"Wek" kor, twerk ni! Ghanaians can speak nonsense ehn

dominique:
I hate that phonics nonsense the schools are always forcing on the children. They're just mispronouncing words and they're calling it phonics.

Why do you hate it? Besides phonics has nothing to do with pronunciations and again it depends on whos teaching them diction. If they have a sound diction instructor, you would love their pronunciation.

Phonics is important. Don't see it as a forceful thing because that is what helps children learn how to read easily. Diction/phonetics is equally good and helps pupils polish their diction; also makes them articulate. Even adults. So instead of saying shooghaa ( sugar) you say shoogur. Please,, leave them to learn diction, very good.

Blessedmercy8:


Why do you hate it? Besides phonics has nothing to do with pronunciations and again it depends on whos teaching them diction. If they have a sound diction instructor, you would love their pronunciation.

Phonics is important. Don't see it as a forceful thing because that is what helps children learn how to read easily. Diction/phonetics is equally good and helps pupils polish their diction; also makes them articulate. Even adults. So instead of saying shooghaa ( sugar) you say shoogur. Please,, leave them to learn diction, very good.

It's the ridiculous accent and the mispronunciation of works for me. Work is work not werk. They're now making it look as if the right pronunciation is wrong

dominique:


It's the ridiculous accent and the mispronunciation of works for me. Work is work not werk. They're now making it look as if the right pronunciation is wrong

Oh.. I see what you mean now.

Mercury12:
I don't know why I find this funny

My guy, try watch Ghanaian movie, you will understand.
You may not finish watching the movie.

Gadafii:
Stupid post, so British diction is the proper one, while the Ghana own is wrong


Shame, same way they told us speaking our mother tongue in primary and secondary school was wrong and they tagged it “vernacular “

Ghanaian English is not really Ghanaian English.
What is affecting the Ghanaian is their native accent.
The mother tongue is rubbing off on their English pronunciation of words.
And don`t forget, English is also a language (You get me?)

OloYeOfEgbE:
Ghana kwa...

I went to da horspeetar,I saw so much bled on da flair...

Werey Ghana English

You know them well