SIMON & SCHUSTERS

PIMSLEUR

twi

reading booklet

Travelers should always check with their nation's State Department for current advisories on local conditions before traveling abroad.

Graphic Design: Maia Kennedy and Recorded Program 1971-2009 Simon & Schuster, Inc. Reading Booklet 1971-2009 Simon & Schuster, Inc. Pimsleur is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Mfg. in USA. All rights reserved.

acknowledgments

TWI
Voices English-Speaking Instructor . . . . . Dr. Paul Pimsleur Female Twi Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victoria Agyei Male Twi Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew C. Denteh

Course Writer Dr. Paul Pimsleur

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For more information, call 1-800-831-5497 or visit us at www.Pimsleur.com

table of contents
Reading Lessons
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Unit Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unit Five . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unit Six . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unit Seven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unit Ten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 5 6 7

Glossary: Twi to English . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Glossary: English to Twi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

twi
Introduction Twi, also called Ashanti Twi, is spoken in Ghana by about 15 million people. It is one of three mutually intelligible dialects of the Akan language. This course was originally published in a limited edition by Dr. Paul Pimsleur for use by the Peace Corps and the U.S. Department of Education. It is now available for the first time on CD. After completing the ten Units, you will have a highly practical 125-word vocabulary that was selected to help you meet many situations you will encounter in Ghana. You will have a rudimentary command of Twi grammar, and you will know how to read (i.e., sound out) written Twi. With this knowledge, you will be able to obtain food and lodging, make purchases, and engage in simple social contacts. Of course, 125 words will not make you a fluent speaker of Twi, but it will establish you as a person who has made an effort to meet his foreign hosts halfway. The recorded portion of the reading materials for this course will be found at the end of each unit. You can do the readings as it is most convenient for you. They can be done individually with each respective unit or at a more appropriate time after

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Introduction (continued) the unit. Instructions on how to proceed with the readings are contained in the audio portion of the course.

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Unit Two 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Ghana Amrika Amrikani, Ghanani mey e/ Mey Amrikani. o/ O/ woy Woy Amrikani. Woy Amrikani anaa? a / aa Aane. Aane, mey Amrikani. Wo nso? Dabi. Meny Amrikani. Meny Amrikani, mey Ghanani. Wote Twi anaa? Aane, mete Twi. Wo nso? Wo nso wote Twi anaa? Dabi, dabi. Mente Twi.

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Unit Three (No Readings) Unit Four (No Readings) Unit Five 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Mey Ghanani. Yfr wo sn? Yfr me Kofi. Mey tikyani. Maakye oo! Owura, maakye. Mepa wo kyw. ka Ka bio. Mepa wo kyw, b k. awuraa Awuraa, Bank w he? Owura, w h. Hotel w ha? Dabi Hotel nni ha. w Kumasi. Yoo, meda a se. Meda ase pii. Mepa wo kyw, meek. Baabae oo!
4

ky

ka / ka

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Unit Six 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Mepa wo kyw. Ankaa. Ankaa yei. Ankaa yei sn? Sidi, psewa Psewa biako. Mpsewa mmienu. Ankaa yei mpsewa mminsa. Awuraa, meda ase pii. Owura nna ase. Awuraa, mepa wo kyw. Tiafi w he? Owura, w h. Posu fese w ha? Dabi, posu fese nni ha. Yoo, meda ase.

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Unit Seven At a beer bar. (W bia bar.) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Customer: Barman: Customer: Barman: Customer: Barman: Maakye. Yaa sn. Mepa wo kyw, ma me bia. Gye bia. gy y. Gye wo sika. Owura, meda ase. Bra bio.

Unit Eight (No Readings) Unit Nine (No Readings)

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Unit Ten 1. Person A: Wow sika sn? Sidi? 2. Person B: Dabi, mew mpsewa nw twe. Wote ase? 3. A: Dabi, mente ase. Wose sn? 4. B: Mese menni sika pii w ha? 5. A: Wook he? 6. B: Mek Nkran. Wo nso ? 7. A: Aane, Nkran y f. Me nso meek h. 8. B: Yoo. Me ne wook.

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Glossary: Twi to English
aane Accra adamfo aduane akwaaba Amrikani Amma anaa anaa ankaa Asanteni awuraa baabae oo baae bank Beach benkum bia biako Bob Borfo b k b s bs st p bra bio Unit 2: yes Unit 8: Accra Unit 8: friend Unit 8: food Unit 1: welcome Unit 2: American person Unit 5: a name (girl born on Sat.) Unit 1: question word Unit 8: or Unit 6: orange Unit 3: Asante person Unit 4: miss; madam Unit 3: bye-bye; good-bye Unit 3: bye Unit 4: bank Unit 10: Beach (Labadi Beach) Unit 9: left (opposite of right) Unit 8: beer Unit 6: one Unit 6: Bob Unit 1: English language Unit 3: slowly Unit 2: bus Unit 4: bus stop Unit 7: come again
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Glossary: Twi to English (continued)
Brown chewing gum chocolate coffee chopbar (restaurant of local food) coka cola Unit 7: Coca Cola coke Unit 7: Coke Continental Hotel Unit 6: Continental Hotel dabi Unit 1: no den Unit 10: what d Unit 9: sweet di Unit 8: eat du Unit 10: ten ; w he? Unit 4: it; Where is it? ny hwee! Unit 2: Its nothing! (Its no matter!) s n Unit 1: response to greetings y. Unit 7: It is all right. (Its enough) y nnan. Unit 9: It is four. Fanteni Unit 3: Fante person f Unit 10: beautiful fufu; fufuo Unit 8: fufu; fufuo Germanni Unit 2: German person gye Unit 7: here! (i.e. take it) ha Unit 4: here (i.e. this place)
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Brown chewing gum chocolate coffee chopbar

Unit 6: Unit 9: Unit 9: Unit 8: Unit 4:

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Glossary: Twi to English (continued)
he? hello ho y f hotel h ice cream ka bio kaa kakra Kofi Koforidua k K so kp kube Kumase Labadi Beach maaha maadwo maakye maakye oo maame madamfo Mary Unit 4: where? Unit 6: hello Unit 10: beautiful / handsome Unit 4: hotel Unit 4: there Unit 9: ice cream Unit 3: say it again Unit 10: car Unit 3: a little Unit 5: a name (boy born on Fri.) Unit 4: Koforidua Unit 9: go Unit 7: Go ahead. Unit 9: cup Unit 10: coconut Unit 4: Kumasi Unit 10: Labadi Beach Unit 10: good afternoon Unit 10: good evening Unit 3: good morning Unit 1: good morning (with oo to help voice carry) Unit 8: mother Unit 8: my friend Unit 5: Mary
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Glossary: Twi to English (continued) 1. me Me 2. ho y. Me 3. nso. Meda 4. ase. Meda 5. ase pii. meek 6. (merek) mek 7. memp 8. menk 9. Menni 10. sika. mennom ... 11. menom 12. Mensa 13. mente 14. Mente 15. ase. meny 16. mepa wo kyw 17. mep 18. mese 19. Mete ase. 20. mew mey mmienu mminsa mpsewa
Unit 1: I Unit 2: I am fine. Unit 2: I too. Unit 3: I thank you. Unit 3: I thank you very much. Unit 5: I am going Unit 9: I go Unit 10: I dont like Unit 9: I dont go Unit 10: I dont have money. Unit 8: I dont drink ... Unit 8: I drink Unit 6: Mensa Unit 1: I dont speak (I dont hear) Unit 10: I dont understand. Unit 2: I am not Unit 1: please; excuse me Unit 10: I like Unit 10: I say Unit 10: I understand. Unit 10: I have (i.e. I possess) Unit 2: I am Unit 6: two Unit 6: three Unit 6: pesewas
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Glossary: Twi to English (continued)
Nana Nancy ne newspaper nifa Nkran (Accra) nkron Nna ase. nnan nni ha, etc. nnum nom nsia nso nson nwtwe paa Peter Brown p psewa pii pii posufeso restaurant Saa! Unit 5: chiefs title Unit 5: Nancy Unit 9: and (to join single words) Unit 6: newspaper Unit 9: right (opposite of left) Unit 8: Accra Unit 9: nine Unit 6: Dont mention it. Unit 7: four Unit 4: is / are not here Unit 7: five Unit 8: drink Unit 8: six Unit 8: also Unit 8: seven Unit 9: eight Unit 10: very much Unit 6: Peter Brown Unit 10: like (i.e. to be fond of) Unit 6: pesewa Unit 3: much Unit 10: many Unit 4: post office Unit 9: restaurant Unit 7: Is that so! Is that right!
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Glossary: Twi to English (continued)
se (mese) Sn? Sn? sidi sika sini sukuu tena ase Thomas tiafi tii Trade Fair Twi Twini wadamfo wo wo Wo ho te sn? wo nso Wo nso ? wok wonk wonom wonte Unit 10: say (I say) Unit 5: How? Unit 6: How much? Unit 6: cedi Unit 7: money Unit 4: movie; cinema Unit 8: school Unit 3: sit down Unit 6: Thomas Unit 4: bathroom Unit 8: tea Unit 10: Trade Fair Unit 1: Twi language Unit 3: Twi person Unit 8: your friend Unit 1: you Unit 7: your Unit 2: How are you? Unit 2: you too Unit 3: And you? Unit 9: you go Unit 9: you dont go Unit 8: you drink Unit 1: you dont speak (Lit. you dont hear)
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Glossary: Twi to English (continued)
wony Wook he? Wose sn? wote wote ase woy w w he ...? w h Yaa, s n. yei yei y ... Yei y den? y y d y f y sn? Yfr wo sn? Yoo. Unit 2: you are not Unit 8: Where are you going? Unit 10: What do you say? Unit 1: you speak (Lit. you hear) Unit 10: you understand Unit 2: you are Unit 10: have (i.e. to possess) Unit 4: Where is ...? Unit 4: is there Unit 1: (a response to greetings) Unit 6: this Unit 10: this is ... Unit 10: What is this? Unit 2: is / am (the verb to be) Unit 9: is sweet Unit 10: is beautiful Unit 9: is how much / is how many? Unit 5: What is your name? Unit 4: O.K.

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Glossary: English to Twi
Accra Unit 8: Nkran also Unit 2: nso American person Unit 2: Amrikani Amma (girl born on Sat.) Unit 5: Amma and (joining single words) Unit 9: ne Asante person Unit 3: Asanteni bank Unit 4: bank bathroom Unit 4: tiafi Beach (Labadi) Unit 10: Beach (Labadi) beautiful Unit 10: f beer Unit 8: bia Bob Unit 6: Bob Brown Unit 6: Brown bus Unit 2: bs bus stop Unit 4: bs stp bye Unit 3: baae bye-bye; good-bye Unit 3: baabae oo car Unit 10: kaa Cedi Unit 6: Sidi chewing gum Unit 9: chewing gum chiefs title Unit 5: Nana chocolate Unit 9: chocolate chopbar Unit 4: chopbar cinema (movie) Unit 4: sini Coca Cola Unit 7: Coka Cola
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Glossary: English to Twi (continued)
coconut coffee Coke come again Continental Hotel cup Dont mention it. drink (to drink) eat eight Excuse me. English language Fante person five food four friend fufu (kind of food) German person go go on (go ahead) good afternoon goodbye good evening Unit 10: kube Unit 8: coffee Unit 7: Coke Unit 7: bra bio Unit 6: Continental Hotel Unit 9: k p Unit 6: Nna ase. Unit 8: nom Unit 8: di Unit 9: nw twe Unit 1: Mepa wo kyw. Unit 1: Bor fo Unit 3: Fanteni Unit 7: nnum Unit 8: aduane Unit 7: nnan Unit 8: adamfo Unit 8: fufu / fufuo Unit 2: Germanni Unit 9: k Unit 7: k so Unit 7: maaha Unit 3: baabae oo Unit 3: maadwo
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Glossary: English to Twi (continued)
good morning (distant) good morning (close) have (to possess) Hello. here (this place) here (get it; take it) hotel How? How are you? How are you called? How do you say? How much? How much is ... I I am I am fine. I am going I am not I dont drink ... I dont go I dont have money. Unit 1: maakye oo Unit 3: maakye (Owura, etc.) Unit 10: w Unit 6: Hello. Unit 4: ha Unit 7: gye Unit 4: hotel Unit 5: Sn? Unit 2: Wo ho te sn? Unit 5: See, What is your name? Unit 10: See, What do you say? Unit 6: Sn? Unit 9: ... y sn? Unit 1: me Unit 2: mey Unit 2: Me ho y. Unit 5: meek Unit 2: meny Unit 8: mennom ... Unit 9: menk Unit 10: Menni sika.
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Glossary: English to Twi (continued)
I dont hear / speak I dont like I dont understand. I drink I go I have (I possess) I like I say I thank you. I thank you very much. I too I understand. ice cream is (the verb to be) is beautiful is beautiful / handsome (of persons) is how much? is not here is sweet Is that so! is there is where? It (It is there.) Its all right / enough. Unit 1: mente Unit 10: memp Unit 10: Mente ase. Unit 8: menom Unit 9: mek Unit 10: mew Unit 10: mep Unit 10: mese Unit 3: Meda ase. Unit 3: Meda ase pii. Unit 2: me nso Unit 10: Mete ase. Unit 9: ice cream Unit 2: y Unit 10: y f Unit 10: ho y f Unit 9: Unit 4: Unit 9: Unit 7: Unit 4: Unit 4: Unit 4: Unit 7:
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y sn? nni ha y d Saa! w h w he? (w h ) y.

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Glossary: English to Twi (continued)
Its four, etc. Unit 9: y nnan, etc. Its no matter. Unit 2: ny hwee. Kofi (boy born on Friday) Unit 5: Kofi Koforidua Unit 4: Koforidua Kumasi Unit 4: Kumase Labadi Beach Unit 10: Labadi Beach left (opposite of right) Unit 9: benkum like (to be fond of) Unit 10: p little Unit 3: kakra lot (a lot, a lot of) Unit 3: pii madam Unit 4: awuraa many Unit 10: pii Mary Unit 5: Mary Mensa Unit 6: Mensa miss (young lady) Unit 4: awuraa money Unit 7: sika mother Unit 8: maame movie (cinema) Unit 4: sini much Unit 3: pii my friend Unit 8: madamfo Nancy Unit 5: Nancy newspaper Unit 6: newspaper nine Unit 9: nkron no Unit 1: dabi O.K. Unit 4: Yoo.
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Glossary: English to Twi (continued)
one or orange pesewa pesawas Peter Brown please question word response to greetings restaurant right (opposite of left) say (I say) say it again school seven sit down six slowly sweet tea ten Thank you. Thank you very much. there Unit 6: biako Unit 8: anaa Unit 8: ankaa (other places: akutu) Unit 6: psewa Unit 6: mpsewa Unit 6: Peter Brown Unit 1: mepa wo kyw Unit 1: anaa Unit 1: Yaa, s n. Unit 9: restaurant Unit 9: nifa Unit 10: se (mese ...) Unit 3: ka bio Unit 8: sukuu Unit 8: nson Unit 3: tena ase Unit 8: nsia Unit 9: bk Unit 9: d Unit 8: tii Unit 10: du Unit 3: Meda ase. Unit 3: Meda ase pii. Unit 4: h
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Glossary: English to Twi (continued)
Unit 6: yei Unit 10: yei y ... Unit 10: See, What is this? Unit 6: Thomas Unit 6: mminsa Unit 10: Trade Fair Unit 1: Twi Unit 3: Twini Unit 6: mmienu Unit 10: te ase Unit 10: pii/ii ...; paa Unit 1: akwaaba Unit 10: den Unit 10: Wose sn? (Wose den?) What is this? Unit 10: Yei y den? What is your name? Unit 5: Yfr wo sn? Where (is where?) Unit 4: He? (w he?) Where are you going? Unit 8: Wook he? yes Unit 2: aane you (and you? Unit 3) Unit 1: wo (wo nso ?) you are ... (verb to be) Unit 2: woy (are: y You are going where? Unit 8: Wo ok he? (Literal) you are not Unit 2: wony
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this this is ... this is what Thomas three Trade Fair Twi (language) Twi person two understand (perceive) very much welcome what What do you say?

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Glossary: English to Twi (continued)
you dont go you dont speak (Lit.: you dont hear) you drink you go you say what? Unit 9: wonk Unit 1: wonte Unit 8: wonom Unit 9: wok Unit 10: See, What do you say? Unit 1: wote

you speak (Literal: you hear) you too Unit 2: wo nso you understand Unit 10: wote ase your (e.g., your mother) Unit 7: wo (wo maame) your friend Unit 8: wadamfo

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