Message from Head of the Department of Linguistics

I welcome you to the Department of Linguistics of the School of Languages, College of Humanities. Established in 1963, it is one of the oldest departments at the University of Ghana. 

At the Department of Linguistics, we aim to foster in our students a deep appreciation of the diversity of languages in our communities and beyond, the intricacies of their structure and the dynamics of their social functions. We strive to instill in students the knowledge and skills required to conduct language research that improves the social and economic fabric of Ghanaian society.  We encourage leadership and integrity by upholding the highest ethical standards in our programmes. Our goals are in consonance with the University of Ghana’s vision to  “achieve global impact through innovative research, teaching and learning, using a technology-driven and people-centred approach”

We run linguistics programmes at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral levels. We also run masters and doctoral programmes in the Teaching of English as a Second Language (TESL). With a strong emphasis on Ghanaian languages, we teach the basic linguistics of some of the major Ghanaian languages (Akan, Dagaare, Dagbani, Ewe, Ga) at the undergraduate level and engage in active research on virtually every Ghanaian language, including under-researched and endangered languages. 

Our faculty have expertise in core areas of linguistics such as phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, and many applied areas such as language teaching, pragmatics, sociolinguistics and sign language. We are active in field work, descriptive and theoretical research. Our courses prepare students for all careers that require expertise in language, including teaching, research, translation, sign language interpreting, and journalism. 

We regularly hosts researchers and practitioners who come to Ghana for short periods. Over the decades, we have provided a unique experience to international students, especially graduate students and students on short term or exchange visits. We demonstrate a strong resolve to give back selflessly to our university by providing a world-class experience that demonstrates our value for the diversity and contributions of the members of our community.

Adjudged by our students as one of the most student-friendly departments in the University of Ghana, our doors are always open for discussions on points of mutual interest, be it teaching, learning, research and beyond. We invite students from all over the world to study with us at any level. We welcome linguists from all over the world to collaborate with our faculty in conducting research on any aspect of linguistics.