TY - JOUR
T1 - Names of seasons as expressions of climatic conditions and agrarian practices
AU - Abubakari, Hasiyatu
AU - Sandow, Lawrence
AU - Asitanga, Samuel Akugri
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Current changes in climatic conditions pose a threat to historical anecdotes associated with names of seasons among the Kusaas (native speakers of the Kusaal language) of Ghana. Historically, the weather patterns during specific periods were used as names for those periods creating a direct relationship between language and climatic conditions. However, this relationship is threatened by the rapid effect of climate change, which is resulting in changing weather patterns, breaking the synergy where names of seasons serve as direct descriptions of the climatic conditions of the respective periods. This study aims to document the names of the seasons in Kusaal, a language spoken in Ghana, highlighting their etymology, socio-cultural and economic significance and their accompanying climatic peculiarities. The study employs a qualitative research design with data gathered through semi-structured interviews with 12 native speakers of the language. Using content analysis, the study reveals that the Kusaas have four seasons: Sapal, Dɔnwalig, Sigir, and Tiŋdɔɔŋ. These names correspond with weather patterns, agrarian practices, and cultural events. The findings show a gradual shift to the adaptation of the Gregorian calendar which poses serious risk to indigenous climatic knowledge. The discussion is situated within the framework of linguistic relativity and cultural sustainability.
AB - Current changes in climatic conditions pose a threat to historical anecdotes associated with names of seasons among the Kusaas (native speakers of the Kusaal language) of Ghana. Historically, the weather patterns during specific periods were used as names for those periods creating a direct relationship between language and climatic conditions. However, this relationship is threatened by the rapid effect of climate change, which is resulting in changing weather patterns, breaking the synergy where names of seasons serve as direct descriptions of the climatic conditions of the respective periods. This study aims to document the names of the seasons in Kusaal, a language spoken in Ghana, highlighting their etymology, socio-cultural and economic significance and their accompanying climatic peculiarities. The study employs a qualitative research design with data gathered through semi-structured interviews with 12 native speakers of the language. Using content analysis, the study reveals that the Kusaas have four seasons: Sapal, Dɔnwalig, Sigir, and Tiŋdɔɔŋ. These names correspond with weather patterns, agrarian practices, and cultural events. The findings show a gradual shift to the adaptation of the Gregorian calendar which poses serious risk to indigenous climatic knowledge. The discussion is situated within the framework of linguistic relativity and cultural sustainability.
KW - Cultural Studies
KW - etymology
KW - Ghana
KW - Kusaal
KW - Language & Linguistics
KW - linguistic relativity
KW - Literature
KW - names of seasons
KW - onomastics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85210147098&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/23311983.2024.2426371
DO - 10.1080/23311983.2024.2426371
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85210147098
SN - 2331-1983
VL - 11
JO - Cogent Arts and Humanities
JF - Cogent Arts and Humanities
IS - 1
M1 - 2426371
ER -