BA M.Phil (Ghana), PhD (Oregon)
Syntax and Semantics; Functional-Typological Syntax; Typology of African Languages; Structure of Akan and other Kwa languages; Discourse Analysis
Graduate Courses
Theory of Syntax
Theories of Syntax (Doctoral)
Seminar in Syntax
Theoretical Issues in the Syntax of African Languages (Doctoral)
Seminar in Semantics
Semantics of English
Research Methods
Theory of Phonology
Seminar in Phonology
Advanced Syntax of a Ghanaian Language (Akan)
Advanced Semantics of a Ghanaian Language (Akan)
Undergraduate Courses
Introduction to Linguistics
Introduction to the Structure of English Words
Phonological Theory
Phonetics and Phonology of English
Phonetics and Phonology of Akan
Syntax and Semantics
Semantics
Morphology and Syntax
Discourse Analysis
Syntax of a Ghanaian Language (Akan)
Semantics of a Ghanaian Language (Akan)
Syntax of English
Morphology and Syntax of Akan
Syntax of Akan
Doctoral Theses
Abunya, Levina N. (2018). Aspects of Kaakyi Syntax. PhD Thesis, Department of Linguistics, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Adika, Gordon (1999). An Analysis of University Students' Expository Discourse. PhD Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Supporting Supervisor
Afreh, Esther S. (2011). The Expression of Motion in Akan. PhD Thesis, Linguistics Department. Principal Supervisor. This thesis won the 2011/2012 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for the Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation (Humanities Category)
Agyekum, Kofi (2003). Akan Linguistics: Metalanguage and Terminology. PhD Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Supporting Supervisor
Agyepong, Dorothy (2017). Cutting and Breaking Events in Akan. PhD Thesis, School of African and Gender Studies, Anthropology and Linguistics, University of Cape Town. External Supervisor
Amoah, Bright (in progress). Aspects of Nkuraeng Grammar. PhD Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Amfo, Nana Aba (2007). Encoding Procedures: A Study with Reference to Akan. PhD Thesis, Department of Language and Communication Studies, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway. External Supervisor
Ansah, Juliet Oppong-Asare (in progress). Verbs of Speaking in Akan. PhD Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Duah, Reginald A. (2013). Force Dynamics and Causation in Akan. PhD Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Eshun, Emma (in progress). Expressions of Perception and Cognition in Akan. PhD Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Kambon, Obadele (2012). Serial Verb Nominalization in Akan. PhD Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor. This thesis won the 2012/2013 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for the Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation (Humanities Category)
Nsoh, Ephraim Avea (2011). A Lexical-Functional Syntax of the Adjective in the Farefare Language. PhD Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Supporting Supervisor
Masters Theses
Addo, Gladys Nyarko (2002). Lexical Innovation in Akan. M.Phil Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Adusei, Dorothy (2012). The Semantics and Pragmatics of Akan Verbs of Consumption. M.Phil Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Supporting Supervisor
Bannerman, Michelle Richter. (in progress). Impersonal Constructions in Akan. M.Phil Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Bediako, Yaa Asantewaa (2008). The Role of Environmental Prints in Early Literarcy Acquisition. M.A. (TESL) Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Bobuafor, Mercy (2001). Verbal Alternations in Ewe. M.Phil. Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Borti, Adeline (2008). Improving the Standard of English in Junior High School Form Two through Communicative Language Teaching. M.A. (TESL) Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Bota, Grace (2002). Some Aspects of Bono Phonology: An Autosegmental Approach. M.Phil Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Danti, Alexis L. (2001). Kasem Word-formation Processes. M.A. Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Frimpong, Victoria (2009). Aspects of Esahie Phonology. M.Phil Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Lawer, Richard A. (2017). Compounding in Dangme. M.Phil Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Supporting Supervisor
Munhuwa, E. (1996). An Investigation into the Use of Cohesive Devices in the Written work of 'A' Level Students. M.A. Thesis (Applied English Linguistics). Department of Linguistics, University of Zimbabwe. Principal Supervisor
Ofori, Kwaku (2001). The Morphosyntax of Larteh. M.Phil Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Okrah, Matthew (1999). A Study of the Nominal Phrase in Nafaanra. M.Phil. Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Opoku, Eunice (in progress). Serialization of Path Verbs in Akan. MPhil Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Pokuaa, Christiana (2003). Adjective Sequencing in Akan. MA Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Salifu, Abdulai (2000). Communicating with the Chief: An Ethnography of Royal Discourse. M.Phil. Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Supporting Supervisor
Simmonds, Linda (2007). Parental Influence in Second Language Learning: The Case of an ESL
Class at Ghana International School. M.A. (TESL) Thesis, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor
Undergraduate Long Essays
Angulu, Hudu F. (2002). Phonological Integration of English-Dagbani Loanwords. B.A (Hons) Long Essay, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana.
Anim-Dakwa, William (1989). Akan in Radio Advertising. BA (Hons)Long Essay. Department of Linguistics, University of Ghana.
Chikuhwa, Kenneth (1995). An Application of Fillmore's 1968 Case Model to Shona Simplex Verbs. BA (Hons) Long Essay. Department of Linguistics, University of Zimbabwe.
Mhaka, Henry (1995). Valency in Shona: A Preliminary Investigation. BA (Hons) Long Essay. Department of Linguistics, University of Zimbabwe.
Ncube, Bongani (1996). Complementation in Ndebele. BA (Hons) Long Essay. Department of Linguistics, University of Zimbabwe.
Nortsu-Kotoe, Peter K. (1999). Linguistic Analysis of Ewe Adverts. B.A (Hons) Long Essay, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana.
Obeng, Jane Sabina (2002). Peculiarities of the Kwahu Dialect of Akan. B.A (Hons) Long Essay, Linguistics Department, University of Ghana.
Yarboi, Pearl (1999). Gender Bias and Stereotyping in Primary Textbooks. B.A. (Hons) Long Essay, Department of Linguistics, University of Ghana.
Sarfo, Radecka (1988). The Language of 'Woes of a Kwatriot'. BA (Hons) Long Essay. Department of Linguistics, University of Ghana.
Books
Agyekum, Kofi, E. Kweku Osam, and Apenteng Sackey (2011). Akan Terminology: English-Akan Linguistic and Media Glossary. Accra: Adwensa Publications.
Osam, E. Kweku. 2004. The Trondheim Lectures. An introduction to Akan: Its verbal and multiverbal systems. Legon: University of Ghana.
Edited Book
Ameka, F. and Osam, E. K. (eds.) (2002). New Directions in Ghanaian Linguistics. Accra: Black Mask.
Book Sections
Osam, E. Kweku (2014). Descriptive Features of Serial Verb Constructions in Akan. In: Kwesi Yankah, Kofi K. Saah, and Nana Aba Appiah Amfo (eds.), A Legon Reader in Ghanaian Linguistics, pp.11-23. Oxfordshire: Ayebia Clarke Publishing.
Osam, E. Kweku (2008). Akan as an Aspectual Language. In: Felix Ameka and Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu (eds.), Aspect and Modality in Kwa Languages, pp.69-89. [Typological Studies in Language Companion Series 100]. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Osam, E. Kweku (2003). The Politics of Discontent: A Discourse Analysis of Texts of the Reform Movement in Ghana. In: Mirjana N. Dedaić and Daniel N. Nelson (eds.), At War with Words, pp. 149-177. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Osam, E. Kweku (2002). The Ingressive in Akan: A Re-consideration. In Felix Ameka and E. Kweku Osam (eds.), New Directions in Ghanaian Linguistics pp.113-126. Accra: Black Mask.
Osam, E. Kweku (1997). Verb Serialisation and Grammatical Relations in Akan. In T. Givón (ed.) Grammatical Relations: A Functionalist Perspective. p.255-281 [Typological Studies in Language, 35]. Amsterdam: Benjamins.
Journal Articles
Duah, Reginald A., E. Kweku Osam & Nana Aba A. Amfo (2021). Event Types and (In)Directness of Causation in Akan. Cognitive Semantics 7, 54-84.
Agyepong, Dorothy P. & E. Kweku Osam (2020). The Semantics and Argument Realization Potential of Akan Verbs of Separation. Journal of West African Languages 47(1), 30-49.
Marfo, Charles & E. Kweku Osam (2018). Optimal Inflections as Asymmetry between Nominal and Verbal Reduplications in Akan. Ghana Journal of Linguistics 7(2), 33-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gjl.v7i2.2
Agyepong, Dorothy Pokua, Amfo, Nana Aba Appiah, & Osam, E. Kweku. (2017). Literal and Metaphorical Usages of ‘Eat’ and ‘Drink’ in Akan. Nordic Journal of African Studies 26(1): 62–78.
Kambon, Obadele, Osam, E. Kweku, & Amfo, Nana Aba (2015). A Case for Revisiting Definitions of Serial Verb Constructions: Evidence from Serial Verb Nominalizations in Akan. Studies in African Linguistics, 44 (2), 75-99.
Osam, E. Kweku, Charles Marfo and Kofi Agyekum (2013). The Morphophonology of the Akan Reduplicated Verb-form. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 9(2), 45-56.
Osam, E. Kweku, Reginald Duah and Afua Blay (2011). The So-called Postpositions in Akan: A Reconsideration. Journal of West African Languages Vol. 38 No. 2, 107-118.
Bobuafor, Mercy, E. Kweku Osam and Paul Agbedor (2006/07). Some Verbal Alternations in Ewe. Afrika und Übersee Vol. 89, 109-126. [Publ. 2009]
Osam, E. Kweku (2008). Imaging a President: Rawlings in the Ghanaian Chronicle. Legon Journal of the Humanities. Vol. 19, 109-134.
Osam, E. Kweku (2008). Verbal Alternations in Akan. Journal of African Languages and Linguistics, Vol. 29 (1), 97-118.
Osam, E. Kweku (2007). A Note on the Cross-dialectal Diffusion of Grammaticalization: The Case of Ma in Akan. Acta Linguistica Hafniensia, Vol. 40, 111-120.
Mathangwane, Joyce T. and E. Kweku Osam (2006). Grammatical Relations in Ikalanga. Studies in African Linguistics. Vol. 35 No. 2, 189-208.
Osam, E. Kweku (2002). Old Needs, New Methods: The Discourse of Ghanaian Personal Advertisements. Legon Journal of the Humanities. Vol. 13, 75-90.
Osam, E. Kweku (2002). Reflexive Marking and Related Functions in Akan. Journal of Asian and African Studies. No. 64, 141-151.
Osam, E. Kweku (2000). The Status of the Indirect Object in Akan. Journal of Asian and African Studies, Vol. 59, 171-177.
Osam, E. Kweku (1999). Adjectives in Akan. Afrika und Übersee, Vol. 82, 189-211.
Osam, E. Kweku (1998). Complementation in Akan. Journal of African Languages and Linguistics, Vol. 19, 21-43.
Osam, E. Kweku (1996). The History of Akan Complementizers. Journal of Asian and African Studies, No. 51, 93-103.
Osam, E. Kweku (1996). The Object Relation in Akan. Afrika und Übersee, Vol. 79, 57-83.
Osam, E. Kweku (1995). The Middle Construction in Akan. Journal of Asian and African Studies, No. 50, 59-72.
Osam, E. Kweku (1994). From Serial Verbs to Prepositions and the Road Between. Sprachtypologie und Universalienforschung Vol.47:1, 16-36.
Osam, E. Kweku (1993). Animacy Distinctions in Akan Grammar. Studies in the Linguistic Sciences, Vol. 23, No. 2, 153-164. [Publ Oct. 1996]
Osam, E. Kweku (1993). The Loss of the Noun Class System in Akan. Acta Linguistica Hafniensia Vol. 26, 81-106.
Osam, E. Kweku (1988). Linking Language and Culture: The Case of Akan Interjections. Legon Journal of the Humanities Vol. 4, 67-76.
Edited Volumes of Conference Proceedings
Dakubu, Mary Esther Kropp, Nana Aba Amfo, E. Kweku Osam, Kofi K. Saah and George Akanlig-Pare (eds.) (2010) Studies in the Languages of the Volta Basin 6 Parts 1 & 2. Legon: University of Ghana Linguistics Department.
Dakubu, Mary Esther Kropp, George Akanlig-Pare, E. Kweku Osam and Kofi K. Saah (eds.) (2007). Studies in the Languages of the Volta Basin 4, Parts 1 & 2. Proceedings of the Annual Colloquium of the Legon-Trondheim Linguistics Project, January 18-120, 2006. Legon: Department of Linguistics.
Dakubu, Mary Esther Kropp and E. Kweku Osam (eds.) (2005). Studies in the Languages of the Volta Basin 3. Proceedings of the Annual Colloquium of the Legon-Trondheim Linguistics Project, January 18-20, 2005. Legon: Department of Linguistics.
Dakubu, Mary Esther Kropp and E. Kweku Osam (eds.) (2004). Studies in the Languages of the Volta Basin 2. Proceedings of the Annual Colloquium of the Legon-Trondheim Linguistics Project, January 12-16, 2004. Legon: Department of Linguistics.
Dakubu, Mary Esther Kropp and E. K. Osam (eds.) (2003). Studies in the Languages of the Volta Basin 1. Proceedings of the Annual Colloquium of the Legon-Trondheim Linguistics Project, December 4-6, 2002. Legon: Department of Linguistics.
Published Conference Proceedings
Osam, E. Kweku (2016). Valency Changing Processes in Akan. In Payne, Doris L., Sara Pachiarotti & Mokaya Bosire (eds.). Diversity in African languages: Selected papers from the 46th Annual Conference on African Linguistics (Contemporary African Linguistics 2.), 117-138. Berlin: Language Science Press.
Saah, Kofi K. and E. Kweku Osam (2010) Adjectives and Qualification in the Languages of the Volta Basin: An Overview. In: Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu, Nana Aba Amfo, E. Kweku Osam, Kofi K. Saah and George Akanlig-Pare (eds.) Studies in the Languages of the Volta Basin 6 Part 1, pp. 105-112. Legon: University of Ghana Linguistics Department.
Pokua, Christina, E. Kweku Osam and K. K. Saah (2007). Adjective Sequencing in Akan: A Preliminary Investigation. In: Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu, George Akanlig-Pare, E. Kweku Osam and Kofi K. Saah (eds.) Studies in the Languages of the Volta Basin 4 Part 1, pp.140-149. Proceedings of the Annual Colloquium of the Legon-Trondheim Linguistics Project, January 18-120, 2006. Legon: Department of Linguistics.
Bota, Grace and E. Kweku Osam (2004). Aspects of Some Phonological Processes in Bono. In: Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu and E. Kweku Osam (eds.). Studies in the Languages of the Volta Basin 2, pp.228-238. Proceedings of the Annual Colloquium of the Legon-Trondheim Linguistics Project, January 12-16, 2004. Legon: Department of Linguistics.
Ansah, Gladys A. and E. Kweku Osam (2004). Lexical Innovation in Akan—An Overview. In: Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu and E. Kweku Osam (eds.). Studies in the Languages of the Volta Basin 2, pp.1-9. Proceedings of the Annual Colloquium of the Legon-Trondheim Linguistics Project, January 12-16, 2004. Legon: Department of Linguistics.
Osam, E. Kweku (2003). Derived Adjectives in Akan and Ewe: A Comparative Analysis. In: Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu and E. Kweku Osam (eds.) Studies in the Languages of the Volta Basin 1, pp.171-179. Proceedings of the Annual Colloquium of the Legon-Trondheim Linguistics Project, December 4-6, 2002. Legon: Department of Linguistics.
Osam, E. Kweku (2003). An Introduction to the Verbal and Multiverbal System of Akan. In: Dorothy Beermann and Lars Hellan (eds.), (online) Proceedings of the Workshop on Multiverb Constructions, Trondheim Summer School. http://www.ling.hf.ntnu.no/tross/
Working Papers
Osam, E. Kweku (1997). The Lone Preposition in Akan. Ghana Studies Council Newsletter. No. 10, 4-5.
Osam, E. Kweku (1990). Participant Identification in Akan Narratives. Afrikanistische Arbeitspapiere No 24, 31-51.
Osam, E. Kweku (1988a). The Structure of Akan Newspaper Editorials—the case of Wonsuom. Afrikanistsche Arbeitspapiere No. 15, 67-86.
Osam, E. Kweku (1988b) Features of Peak in Akan Narratives. Papers in Ghanaian Linguistics, No. 7, 25-40.
BOOK REVIEW
Osam, E. Kweku (2009) Review of Simpson, Andrew (ed.) 2008. Language and National Identity in Africa. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Studies in Language Vol. 33 (3), 776-780.
Osam, E. Kweku (1994). Review of Lord, Carol (1993). Historical Change in Serial Verb Constructions [Typological Studies in Language 26]. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. In Journal of African Languages and Linguistics Vol. 15:2, 205-210.
SELECTED CONFERENCE PAPERS
Marfo, Charles O. & Osam, E. Kweku (2018). Optimal inflections as asymmetry between verbal and nominal reduplicated forms in Akan. A paper presented at the New Frontiers in Language Studies in Ghana: An International Symposium in Honour of Professor Florence Abena Dolphyne. University of Ghana, Legon, February 28, 2018.
Abunya, Levina and Osam, E. Kweku (2017). Relativization in Kaakye. A paper presented at the 48th Annual Conference on African Linguistics, Indiana University, Bloomington, March 30-April 2, 2017.
Osam, E. Kweku (2015). Quality Higher Education Supporting Education for All. A paper presented the conference: Learning Together for Change: Advancing Education for All Through Higher Education, Arusha, Tanzania, April 27-29, 2015.
Osam, E. Kweku (2015). Valency Changing Processes in Akan. A Plenary Paper presented at the 2015 Annual Conference on African Linguistics—ACAL 46, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA, March 26-28, 2015.
Afreh, Esther and Osam, E. Kweku (2011). The Expression of Path in Motion Events in Akan. A paper presented at the 11th International Cognitive Linguistics Conference, Xi’an, China, July 11-17, 2011.
Afreh, Esther and Osam, E. Kweku (2011). The Semantic Networks of the Akan Posture Verbs da ‘lie’, gyina ‘stand’ and te/tena ‘sit’. A poster presentation at the 42nd Annual Conference on African Linguistics. University of Maryland, June 10-12, 2011.
Osam, E. Kweku (2010). Faculty Development at the University of Central Florida—A Case Study and Implications for the University of Ghana. A paper presented at the Closing Workshop of The Fall 2010 Fellows of The University Administration Support Programme of IREX (International Research and Exchanges Board), Washington, DC, November 16-17, 2010.
Osam, E. Kweku, Charles Marfo and Kofi Agyekum (2010). The Morphophonology of Akan Reduplicated Verb-forms. A paper presented at the 2010 Conference of the Linguistics Association of Ghana, University of Ghana, August 10-13, 2010.
Osam, E. Kweku (2010). Expressing Epistemic Meanings in Akan. A paper presented at the 41st Annual Conference on African Linguistics. University of Toronto, May 6-8, 2010.
Osam, E. Kweku and Jemima Anderson (2010). Akan: The Emerging Unofficial National Language. A paper presented at the 41st Annual Conference on African Linguistics. University of Toronto, May 6-8, 2010.
Osam, E. Kweku and Reginald A. Duah (2010). The So-called Postpositions in Akan: A Reconsideration. A paper presented at the 8th Annual Faculty of Arts Colloquium, University of Ghana, April 14 & 15, 2010.