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Akan

A language of Ghana

ISO 639-3: aka

Population	8,300,000 in Ghana (2004 SIL). Population includes 2,800,000 Asante Twi, 1,900,000 Fante, 555,000 Akuapem Twi (2004).
Region	Asante are south central, Ashanti Province; Akuapem are southeast, north of Accra; Fante are south central, between Winneba, Takoradi, and Obuasi.
Language map	Ghana, reference number 5
Dialects	Agona, Anomabo Fanti, Abura Fanti, Gomua; Ahafo, Akuapem (Akwapem Twi, Akuapim, Akwapi, Twi), Akyem (Akyem Bosome), Asante (Ashante Twi, Asanti, Achanti), Asen, Dankyira, Fante (Fanti, Mfantse), Kwawu (Kwahu).
Classification	Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Central, Akan
Language use	1,000,000 L2 speakers.
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: 30%–60%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–10%. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1871–1964.
Writing system	Latin script.
Comments	The two main subdivisions of Akan are assigned codes in the ISO 639-3 standard: Fanti [fat] and Twi [twi]. Fanti dialects: Agona, Anomabo Fanti, Abura Fanti, Gomua. Twi dialects: Ahafo, Akuapem, Akyem, Asante, Asen, Dankyira, Kwawu. SVO.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

Boafo, Ebenezer, Christine Kehl and Deborah Hatfield. 2002. "Sociolinguistic survey of the Awutu-Efutu language area."  

Cahill, Michael. 1985. An autosegmental analysis of Akan nasality and tone.

Hansford, Gillian F. 2007. Review of: Akan dictionary pilot project.

Hansford, Gillian F. 2007. Review of: Bu me bɛ, by Peggy Appiah, Kwame Anthony Appiah and Ivor Agyeman-Duah Ayebia.

Neeley, Paul. 1997. Review of: Rhythms of life, songs of wisdom: Akan music from Ghana, West Africa, [compact disc], by Roger Vetter.

Savage, T. Dale. 1987. "Some abstract features of Kwa vowel harmony: An autosegmental approach to Engenni, Igbo, Akan, and Yoruba."

Tompkins, Barbara, Deborah H. Hatfield and Angela Kluge. 2002. "Sociolinguistic survey of the Gua language community."