A Critical Study of the Designation of Chapter as Ti by Asante – Twi Bible Readers

Emmanuel Foster Asamoah ORCID iD  &   Jonathan Edward Tetteh Kuwornu-Adjaottor ORCID iD

Issue: Vol.1  No.6 October 2020  Article 3 pp. 220-227
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2020103  |   Published online 26th October 2020.
© 2020 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Views: 1,475
684 Downloads

DOWNLOAD PDF

Bible reading is one of the purposeful activities Christians and users of the Bible engage in it to learn the word of God as well as learning new vocabularies of their native language, especially when they read in their mother-tongue. Asante-Twi Bible readers and users have designated ti for “chapter” in the reading of the Asante-Twi Bible. However, this does not carry the literal meaning of the text; thereby, not helping Asante-Twi Bible users to access the literal and right meaning for “chapter” in the Asante-Twi language. Using the analytical method in reading, this article argues that Asante-Twi Bible users should read chapter as ɔfa, for it carries the literal meaning of the text. Aside helping Asante-Twi Bible users to identify and ascertain the meaning of “chapter” in their language, which builds their vocabulary, it helps them to get the literal and right meaning of the text. The designation of ɔfa for “chapter” by Asante-Twi Bible users and readers keeps them from the “shock of recognition” of carrying a different meaning; it carries the literal and right meaning for “chapter” in the Asante-Twi language. This study has thus added an Akan meaning and translation of “chapter” to the knowledge of Bible reading in Akan, in general, and the Asante-Twi Bible reading communities, in particular. It is being recommended that Asante-Twi Bible users and readers should designate “chapter” as ɔfa in Bible reading which is done either silently or aloud at church, in their homes, or where ever, especially during church services, family devotions, or wherever, for academic and or spiritual purposes.

Keywords: Asante-Twi Bible reading, Analytical Method, Chapter, Ti, and Ɔfa

Agyekum, Kofi, “The Sociolinguistic of Akan Personal Names,” Nordic Journal of African Studies, 15(2) (2006): 206–235.

_________. Akan Kasadwini. Madina, Accra: Dwumfuor Publications, 2011.

Agyekum, Kofi, Osam Emmanuel K., & Sackey Apenteng, Akan terminology: English- Akan Linguistic and Media Glossary.Accra: Adwinsa Publications Ltd, 2011.

Akrofi, C. A., G. L. Botchway, & B. K. Takyi, An English, Akan, Ewe, Ga Dictionary. Accra, GH: Waterville Publishing House, 2013.

Anane, J. O. Advanced Akan Dictionary: Akuapim, Asante and Fanti with Human’s Names and Meanings. Anwomaso,Kumasi: Prisebs Publishers, 2000.

Asamoah, Emmanuel Foster, “The Bible and Akan Traditional Religious Values: A Search for Dialogue,” Journal of Mother-Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology (MOTBIT), 2(2) (August 2020): 78-86.https://doi.org/10.38159/motbit.2020081

_________.“Understanding and Interpretation of Revelation 1:8 by some Asante-Twi Speaking Scholars,” E-Journal of Religious And Theological Studies (ERATS) 6(3) (2020): 181 – 9. https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.2020064

Asante Twi Bible, Twerɛ Kronkron: Apam Foforc Mu Nwoma. Accra, Ghana: The Bible Society of Ghana, 2012.

Bediako, Kwame, Christianity in Africa, The Renewal of a Non-Western Religion. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1995.

Bouhedjam, Djaber Nacer, Importance of Reading Activity in Education. Accessed online on August 8, 2020, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314094530_Importance_of_Reading_Activity_in_Education.

Braibant, Jean-Marc & François-Marie Gérard, “Savoir lire: Question(s) de méthodes?” Bulletin de psychologie scolaire et d’orientation, n° 1 (1996): 7-45.

Bratcher, Robert G. “The Art of Translating,” Bible Translator (9) (1958): 84-9.

Dede, Martin, Asante Nsɛmfua Nkyerɛaseɛ Nwoma: Twi Dictionary. Tema, GH: Aburuburo Nkosua Series.

Dickson, Roger E. Dickson Biblical Research Library. South Africa: Africa International Missions, 2013.

Dubois, Jean, Mathee Giacomo and Louis Guespin, Dictionnaire de linguistique, (Larousse, Paris, 1973), R. T. Bell, Translation and Translating: Theory and practice. London: Longman, 1991.

Ekem, John D. K. Early Scriptures of the Gold Coast (Ghana): The Historical, Linguistic and Theological Settings of the Ga, Twi, Mfantse and Ewe Bibles. Manchester: ST. Jerome Publishing, 2011.

________. Priesthood in Context: A Study of Priesthood in Some Christian and Primal Communities of Ghana and its Relevance for Mother-Tongue Biblical Interpretation. Accra, GH: SonLife Press, 2009.

EnglishClub, Reading Skills Guide. Accessed online on August 14, 2020, from https://www.englishclub.com/reading/guide.php.

Feyfant, Annie and Marie Gaussel, “Reading methods and learning difficulties,” Dossier d’actualité, VST, n° 31 (Nov. 2007): 1-15.

Ghana Statistical Service, 2010 Population and Housing Census: Summary Report of Final Results. Accra: Sakoa Press Ltd, 2012.

Gundry, R. H. A Survey of the New Testament 3rd ed. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1994.

Jenkins, William A. Reading for Enjoyment and Personal Development (February 1967). Accessed online on August 9, 2020, from http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/journals/ed_lead/el_196702_jenkins.pdf.

Kpobi, David Nii Anum, Entrusted with the Word: A History of the Bible Society of Ghana 1965-2015. Osu, GH: Heritage Publication, 2015.

Kuwornu-Adjaottor, J. E. T. and Samuel Kodom, “A Study of ὄχλουσ (Crowd) In Matthew 5:1: Implication for Asante-Twi Bible Readers,” E-Journal of Religious And Theological Studies (ERATS), 1(2) (2019): 121-8. https://doi.org/10.32051/06241912

_________.“Bible Studies and Biblical Studies: An Interface,” The Bible, Cultural Identity, and Missions, Edited by Daniel Berchie et. al., (UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2016), 386-406.

Macmillan Dictionary, Reading. Accessed online on August 9, 2020 from https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/reading.

NeverThirsty, How many chapters, verses, and words are in the Bible. Accessed on August 12, 2020, from
https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/how-many-chapters-verses-and-words-are-in-the-bible/.

Pabellorin, Kristine Joy M. (ed.), Teaching Reading. Accessed on August 8, 2020, from https://nanopdf.com/download/title-teaching-reading_pdf.

Parker, James I. and Derek Williams, The Bible Application Handbook. Guildford, Surrey: Eagle, 1999.

Perbi-Asare, E. De Mɛntɛ? Koforidua: Kiiitess Books, 2018.

Vermeer, Hans J. A Skopos Theory of Translation: Some Arguments for and Against. Heidelberg: Textcontext, 1996.

Emmanuel Foster Asamoah, BTh, MPhil, Research Associate, Department of Religious Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. He is an Ordained Minister of The Church of Pentecost, pastoring at Antoakrom, Ashanti Region, Ghana. His areas of interest are Biblical Studies, Bible Translations, Mother-tongue Biblical Hermeneutics, and Biblical Apocalyptic Literature.

Jonathan Edward Tetteh Kuwornu-Adjaottor, PhD is an Associate Professor of New Testament and Mother Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics in the Department of Religious Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology – Kumasi Ghana.

Asamoah E.F, & Kuwornu-Adjaottor, J.E.T., “A Critical Study of the Designation of Chapter as Ti by Asante – Twi Bible Readers” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 1, no.6 (2020): 220-227. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2020103

© 2020 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Publishers. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Articles in this Issue

About Journal