I’ve learned a lot over the course of my senior project. My essential was: how can I best learn Twi, and how are language and culture connected. My plan was to immerse myself in the language so that I could learn it as quickly as possible. My parents played a huge role in my efforts in learning Twi, and I undeniably wouldn’t have gotten as far without them. As my senior project continued, I began to switch gears a bit, and focused on the ways in which language impacted culture. I used my background in Twi as a point of reference, and interviewed other people about the relationships between language and culture, and the ways in which languages impacted them. 

When I first began my senior project, I expected to learn interesting facts about different languages, and learn conversational Twi as well. I also wanted to learn about how colonialism and imperialism have impacted immigrant communities, for instance, the reasons why immigrant parents choose not to teach their children their native languages, or the slow extinction of certain languages. I was hoping to interview people and do more research surrounding those topics, however, I didn’t get to all the topics I wanted to tackle. Nonetheless, I learned a lot throughout my senior project, and I also learned about myself, and the way that I want to interact with the world. 

Twi is a language that values respect and honor, and that is conveyed through the customs and practices that are embedded within the language itself. In Twi, it’s important to recognize the other person before you begin speaking. It’s almost as if we say, “here we are, speaking together,” before we start speaking, and that is said through honorifics and other ‘polite’ words. I really value communication- maybe that’s why I was drawn to this senior project in the first place- and acknowledging that you’re with somebody and present with them before you start speaking is something that I find really beautiful. To me, the way people do that when speaking Twi is similar to seeing somebody turn off their phone while having dinner with you. Twi speakers show that you have their undivided attention, and that they respect you. That’s something that I want to take with me everywhere- that human to human connection that can be so hard to establish. I don’t think that this increased emphasis on honor and respect isn’t unique to Twi- however, the way it’s within the language itself is quite special. The fact that respect and honor are so emphasized in Twi and Ghanaian culture in general is something that I really love. Realizing that difference in being- the ways of being with each other- that Twi emphasizes is something that I never thought I would discover through this senior project, and I’m very happy to have this product that is intangible yet so important. 

This experience has impacted the way that I think of languages going forward. Each language and culture are tied together, and they impact the way we interact with others and the world around us. Learning Twi has been really fun and has made me aware of the strengths and weaknesses of both English and Twi. My senior project has given me a much deeper understanding of language and communication, and it’s really motivated me to learn more languages and experience other cultures because of the different frames of viewing that they can provide.