Evershed K. Amuzu

Title: 
Associate Professor
Position: 
Director
Education: 
BA (UG), MA (Ghana), MPhil (Norway), PhD (Australia)
Email: 
ekamuzu@ug.edu.gh

Prof. Evershed K. Amuzu studied Linguistics at the University of Ghana (BA, MA), University of Oslo (MPhil), and the Australian National University (Ph.D).  He is the former Head of the Department of Linguistics at the University of Ghana and currently the Director of the Language Centre. His areas of specialization include sociolinguistics and contact linguistics (with special interest in cross-linguistic analyses of aspects of grammatical structure of codeswitching in West Africa; lexical borrowing; and pidgin and creole languages), discourse analysis, and the linguistics of Ewe and English.

 

PUBLICATIONS

BOOK CHAPTERS

  1. Amuzu, Evershed K., Elvis ResCue, Bernard Boakye and Nana Aba A. Amfo. (2023). African contributions to four journals of sociolinguistics. In Bassey E. Antia and Sinfree Makoni (eds.). Southernizing Sociolinguistics: colonialism, racism, and patriarchy in language in the global south. London: Routledge, pp. 146-166.
  2.  Akpanglo-Nartey, R., Regina Caesar and Evershed K. Amuzu. (2022). Compliment responses in Ga, Dangme and Ewe. In Gyasi Obeng, Samuel and Kofi Agyekum (eds.) Topics in West African Discourse Pragmatics. Cologne: Rudiger Koppe Verlag Koln, pp. 33-53.
  3. Ayira, Ernestina Kabrikole, Jemima Asabea Anderson and Evershed K. Amuzu.(2022). English meets indigenous African language: A case study of English-Kasem bilinguals in Ghana. In Mayowa Akinlotan (ed.), Englishes in Africa, pp. New York: Peter Lang Publishers.
  4. Berg, Margot; Evershed K. Amuzu, Komlan Essizewa, Komlan, Elvis Yevudey,and Kamailoudini Tagba. (2017). Crosslinguistic effects of adjectivization strategies in Surinam, Ghana and Togo. In Angermeyer, Phillip; Cecelia Cutler and Zvjezdana Vrzic (eds.), Language contact in Africa and the African diaspora in the Americas. Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing. Pp. 343-362.
  5. Amuzu, Evershed K. (2015). Combining the Markedness Model and the Matrix Language Frame Model in analyzing bilingual speech. In Gerald Stell and Kofi Yakpo (eds.) Code-switching between structural and sociolinguistic perspectives. Berlin: De Gruyter. Pp. 85-116.
  6. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi. (2014). Is codeswitching in Ghana still the ‘third tongue’ of the educated? In Kwesi Yankah, Kofi Saah and Nana Aba Amfo (eds.) A Legon Reader in Ghanaian linguistics. Oxfordshire: Ayebia Clarke Publishing Limited. pp.162-177.
  7. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi. (2002). ”The Mixed Possessive Adnominal Construction in Ewe- English Codeswitching: A Test for the Matrix  Language Frame Model”. In F. K. Ameka and E. K. Osam (eds.), New Directions in Ghanaian Linguistics. Accra: ACP Publishers. pp. 147-171.

JOURNAL ARTICLES

  1. Akrobettoe, Raymond. T., Regina O. Caesar, and Evershed K. Amuzu. (2022). Dialectal variation in lexical borrowings in Dangme. Legon Journal of the Humanities. Vol. 33.2, pp. 1-28.
  2. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi, Akua Campbell, and Seth Ofori (2020). “That’s not my understanding” – Interpretation in the Ghanaian Multilingual Court. Language and Dialogue 10:3, pp.389-421.
  3. Inusah, Abdul-Razak, Evershed Kwasi Amuzu, and George Akanlig-Para. (2019). Variations of [r] in Dagbani female names. South African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies 37(3): 191-209. DOI: 10.2989/16073614.2019.1671878.
  4. Amuzu, Evershed K., Nutakor Yvonne, and Amfo Nana Aba A. (2019). Multilingualism and language practices of Nigerien migrants in Ghana. In the Special Issue titled ‘Multilingualism and language policies in the African context: Lessons from Ghana’. Current Issues in Language Planning. Ref. Ms. No. RCLP-2019-0003.
  5. Nuworsu Anastasia, Diabah Grace, Evershed K. Amuzu (2019). “Look me, hwε ha, ofainε kwεmɔ biε aha mi fioo!!”: Codeswitching at inter-ethnic traditional marriage ceremonies in southern Ghana. Multilingua. https://doi.org/10.1515/multi-2017-0097
  6. Amuzu, Evershed K, Kuwornu, Abigail Ayiglo, and Opoku-Fofie, Sylvia. 2018. “Awww, we r sorry wai”. Pragmatic functions of L1 discourse markers in Ghanaians’ English-based WhatsApp conversations. Contemporary Journal of African Studies, Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 60-86.
  7. Amuzu, Evershed K. (2016). The syntax of adverbials in Ewe-English Codeswitching. Journal of Cognitive Science 17 (1), 133-165.
  8. Quarcoo, Millicent and Evershed K. Amuzu. (2016). Codeswitching in University Students’ Out-of-Classroom Academic Discussions. Issues in Intercultural Communication. Vol.4 (1). pp. 1-13. Indiana University, Bloomington. https://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=59573.
  9.  Amuzu, K. Evershed and Ebenezer Asinyor. (2016). Errors on (sic) Ghanaian Students’ Written English: Is Speaking School Pidgin English the Cause? Ghana Journal of Development Studies. University of Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. Vol. 13 (2), 48-65.
  10. Owusu, Edward; John Agor, and Evershed K. Amuzu. (2015). Second Language Learners’ Family Background and their English Writing Competence: The Case of a Private Tertiary Institution in Ghana. Studies in English Language Teaching, Vol 3 (4), 466-486.
  11.  Quarcoo, Millicent, Evershed K. Amuzu, and Augustina Pokua Owusu (2014). Codeswitching as a means and a message in hiplife music in Ghana. Contemporary Journal of African Studies Vol. 2 (2), 1-32.
  12.  Amuzu, Evershed K and Singler, John Victor (2014). Introduction: Codeswitching in West-Africa. In: “Special Issue: Codeswitching in West Africa”, International Journal of Bilingualism. Vol. 18(4), 329-345.
  13.  Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi. (2014). Producing composite codeswitching: The role of the modularity of language production. In: “Special Issue: Codeswitching in West Africa”, International Journal of Bilingualism, Vol. 18(4), 384-407.
  14. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi. (2014). A Comparative Study of Bilingual Verb Phrases in Ewe-English and Gengbe-French Codeswitching. Journal of Language Contact. Vol. 7(2), 250-287.
  15. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi. (2013). Bilingual serial verb constructions: A comparative study of Ewe-English and Ewe-French codeswitching. Lingua 137, 19-37.
  16. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi. (2013). A cross-linguistic study of double pluralityin bilingual codeswitching in West Africa. Journal of West African Languages. Volume XL, No. 2: 73-100.
  17. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi. (2012) Socio-pragmatics of conversational codeswitching in Ghana. Ghana Journal of Linguistics. 2.1: 1-22.
  18. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi. (2009). “Mechanisms of language maintenance in Ewe-English Codeswitching”. Journal of West African Languages Volume XXXVI, Number 1-2, pp. 221-243.
  19. Amuzu. Evershed Kwasi. (2009). “Double Plurality in Codeswitching”. Legon Journal of the Humanities. Vol 20, 151-180.
  20. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi. (2005). “Revisiting the Classic Codeswitching – Composite Codeswitching Distinction: A Case Study of Nonverbal Predication in Ewe-English   Codeswitching.” In Australian Journal of Linguistics 25.1, 127-151.
  21. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi. (2005). “The Composite Matrix Language in Mixed Possessive       Constructions in Ewe-English Codeswitching.” In Monash University Linguistics Papers. Vol. 4 (2), pp. 11-27. [Special Issue on Language contact, hybrids and new varieties: emergent possessive constructions.]

BOOK

  1. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi. (2010). Composite Codeswitching in West Africa: The Case of Ewe-English Codeswitching. Saarbrucken: Lambert Academic Publishing.

OTHER ACADEMIC WORKS (TEXTBOOK DEVELOPMENT)

  1. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi. (2010). Discourse Analysis: LING 344. A module for the Institute of Continuing and Distance Education, University of Ghana.
  2. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi. (2010). Pidgin and Creole Languages: LING 437. A module for the Institute of Continuing and Distance Education, University of Ghana.
  3. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi. (2009). Sociolinguistics: LING 345. A module for the Institute of Continuing and Distance Education, University of Ghana.
  4. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi, Stella Boateng Norgbe, and David Ako Odoi. (2007). Academic Writing LANG 100/200. Volume 2. A module for the Institute of Continuing and Distance Education, University of Ghana.
  5. Amuzu, Evershed Kwasi, Stella Boateng Norgbe, and David Ako Odoi. (2007). Academic        Writing: LANG 100/200. Volume 1. A module for the Institute of Continuing and Distance Education, University of Ghana.

CONFERENCE AND SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS

2023. With Nana Ama Agyeman, Enyonam Yaa Akpakli, and Faustina Fosua Taylor. “How the status and functional distribution of languages impact contact outcomes in triglossic settings in Ghana: Case studies among the Effutu in Winneba and Ewe immigrants in Koforidua.” A paper presented on 25th October 2023 at the joint 29th International Federation for Modern Languages and Literatures (FILLM) and 33rd West African Linguistics Society (WALS) conference held at the University of Ghana.

2022. With Pascal Kpodo, Cynthia Kumako, and Gabriel Agbemehia. “Sociolinguistic analysis of some Ewe euphemisms”. A paper presented on 28th September 2022, at the 14th Linguistics Association of Ghana Conference, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

2021. With Elvis Rescue and Nana Aba Appiah Amfo. “Contributions of Africans to sociolinguistics: a scrutiny of their outputs in some western journal”. Paper presented on 3rd November 2021 at the fourth School of Languages Conference (SOLCON-IV), University of Ghana.

2021.   With Caesar Regina and Raymond Teye Akrobettoe. “A sociolinguistic study of lexical borrowings into Dangme”. Paper presented on 3rd November 2021 at the fourth School of Languages Conference (SOLCON-IV), University of Ghana.

2021.   Bernard Boakye and Rebecca Akpanglo-Nartey. “A sociolinguistic analysis of the phonological variable [r] in Akan” Paper presented on 4th November 2021 at the fourth School of Languages Conference (SOLCON-IV), University of Ghana.

2018.  With Ernestina Kabrikole and Jemima Anderson. “Bilingual noun and verb phrases in Kassem-English codeswitching”. A paper presented on 31st July, 2018 at the 11 conference of the Linguistics Association of Ghana held at the University of Ghana, Legon.

2017. “Bilingual codeswitching by monolinguals in Ghana”. A paper presented on 2nd August, 2017 at the joint conference of West African Linguistics Society (WALS) and Linguistics Association of Ghana (LAG) that was held at the University of Education, Winneba.

2016. With Nana Aba A. Amfo and Yvonne Nutakor. “Multilingualism and language practices among Nigeriens (im)migrants in Ghana. Paper presented on the 27th of July, 2016 at LAG 16, the 9th conference of the Linguistics Association of Ghana, held at Tamale.

2016. With Anastasia Nuworsu  and Grace Diabah. “Like the colourful kente cloth: Language choice at interethnic marriage ceremonies in Accra. Paper presented on the 27th of July, 2016 at LAG 16, the 9th conference of the Linguistics Association of Ghana, held at Tamale.

2015. With Yvonne Nutakor and Nana Aba Amfo. “Language resocialization by Nigeriens at the Akwapem Ridge”. Paper presented on on 27th October, 2015 at the first School of Languages Conference (SOLCON-1), University of Ghana.

2015. With Abigail Kuwornu. “The use of o, wai, saa and la on social media.” Paper presented on 28th October, 2015 at the first School of Languages Conference (SOLCON-1), University of Ghana.

2015.   With Ebenezer Asinyor. “The poor quality of the written English of students in tertiary institutions in Ghana: Is School Pidgin the (sole) culprit?” Paper presented on 16th April, 2015 at the 1st School of Social Studies Colloquium, University of Ghana, Legon.

2014. With Margot van den Berg, Komlan Essizewa and Elvis Yevudey. “Temporal Relations and Outcomes of Language Contact in West Africa, Suriname and the Netherlands: Implications for Creole Formation.” Paper presented on 28th July, 2014, at the 7th conference of the Linguistics Association of Ghana (LAG) held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).

2014. “Composite Codeswitching in West Africa”. Paper presented on 18th September, 2014 at the Linguistics Department, Stockholm University.

2013. “Expressing Translational Motion in Codeswitching.” A paper presented on the 16th October, 2013 at the Linguistics Department Seminar Series.

2013.  With Margot van den Berg, Komlan Essizewa and Elvis Yevudey. “Equivalence and codeswitching: you can’t have one without the other?” Paper present on 29th July at the 6th Linguistics Association of Ghana (LAG) Conference held at the University of Cape Coast.

2012.  With Margot van den Berg, Komlan Essizewa and Elvis Yevudey. “A comparison of cross-linguistic effects in urban areas in Ghana and Togo.” Paper presented on 3rd August, 2012 at the 5th conference of the Linguistics Association of Ghana (LAG) held at the University of Education, Winneba.

2012.  “Relating the Matrix Language Frame model to the Markedness Model in accounting for the bilingual language practices of a speech community”. Guest paper presented on 7th June 2012 at Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), University of Freiburg, Germany. The theme of this international workshop was “Code-switching at the crossroads between structural and sociolinguistic perspectives”.

2011.  With Margot van den Berg and Elvis Yevudey. “On toys, Early Sranan and contemporary bilingual discourse in West Africa: A comparison of adjectivization strategies” Paper presented on 6th August, 2011 at the conference of the Society for Pidgin and Creole Languages at the University of Ghana, Legon.

2010.  “The role of language typology in double plurality in codeswitching”. Paper presented on 8th May, 2010 at the 41st Annual Conference on African Languages / ACAL41, hosted jointly by the University of Toronto and York University, in Toronto, Canada.

2010. “Codeswitching as a Communication of Multiple Identities: Messages from the Ghanaian Context”. Paper presented on 13th April, 2010 at the 8th Faculty of Arts Colloquium, University of Ghana, Legon.

2009. “Explaining Double Plurality in Codeswitching”. Paper presented on 25th March, 2009 at the Linguistics Department (University of Ghana) Seminar Series.

2009.   “Serializing verbs in Ewe-English Codeswitching”. Paper presented on 14th January, 2009 at the Final Colloquium on the Typology, Lexicography and Development of the Languages of the Volta Basin, held at the Department of Linguistics, University of Ghana, Legon.

2008.  “Word Order in Ewe Noun Phrase”. Paper presented on 1st August, 2008 at the 26th West African Languages Conference, held at the University of Education, Winneba.

2007.   “Producing Composite Codeswitching”. Paper presented on 26th November, 2007 at the International Conference on Codeswitching in West Africa: Theory and Implications, held at the University of Ghana, Legon.

2006. “Serialization of Verbs in Ewe-English Codeswitching – How Bilinguals combine competencies in two grammars in intra-sentential codeswitching.” Paper presented on 9th November 2006 at the 2nd Conference on Applied Linguistics, held at the University of Education, Winneba. Conference Theme: Language Teaching and Research: The African Experience.

2006.   “Grammars in Intensive Contact: The Mixed Noun Phrase in Ewe-English Codeswitching.” Paper presented on 3rd October 2006 at the Language Centre Seminars, University of Ghana.

2006.   “Why Frequent English Verbs like go, come, eat, know, etc. do not occur in mixed VPs in Ewe-English and Akan-English Codeswitching”. Paper presented on 28th February 2006 at the Language Centre Seminars, University of Ghana.

2005.   “Codeswitching as a Composite of Two Linguistic Systems: Evidence from Ewe-English and Akan-English Codeswitching.” Paper presented on 13th August 2005 at the Language Centre Seminars, University of Ghana.

2004.  “The Composite Matrix Language in Mixed Possessive Constructions in Ewe-English Codeswitching”: Paper presented on 3rd August 2004 at the International Working Symposium held at Monash University, Melbourne on the theme, Language Contact, Hybrids and New Varieties: Emergent Possessive Constructions.

2003.   “Beyond Surface Grammatical Structures – A language-production-based analysis of mixed constituents in Ewe-English codeswitching”. Paper presented 30th April 2003 at the Centre for Research on Language Change Seminars at the Australian National University.

2001.  “Field Methods for Studying Code-Mixing”: Presented at the Australian Linguistics Society Workshop 2001 held on 30th August 2001 at the Australian National University on the theme: Tracking language use, proficiency and program outcomes for indigenous languages.

2000.   “How lexically based is Ewe-English Codeswitching? A critique of Myers-Scotton’s Matrix Language Frame model”: Paper presented on 18/08/2000 at the 22nd West African Languages Conference at the Linguistics Department, University of Ghana.

 

ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS

With Nana Ama Agyeman:” Functional distribution of languages and the contact outcomes in triglossic settings in Ghana: Case studies among the Effutu in Winneba and Ewe immigrants in Koforidua and environ”.

With colleagues at the Language Centre (a Language Centre Project) titled, “Space and trends in multilingual Ghana.”

With Yvonne Agbetsoamedo.  An Andrew Mellon Research Project titled, “Language socialization in Santrokofi: insight into the Sɛlɛɛ child’s linguistic behavior at home and at school”.

With Pascal Kpodo, Cynthia Kumako, and Gabriel Agbemehia: “Sociolinguistic analysis of some Ewe euphemisms.”