I am adopting a sweet little 6 week old baby from Ghana...but I am worried about the language barrier?

Question

Does anyone know any Ghanian phrases I can quickly learn so that I can communicate with him.

Thank you :-)

Answer 1

"atuk alunda lana"

Answer 2

Wave a gun at him when you want him to obey.  that will get him feeling right at home.  The rest will fall into place soon after.

Answer 3

I think that you will have to teach him Ghanain first, so why not learn it with him?

What language do you want him/her to speak?

A child will readily and almost automatically acquire langugages that it hears in everyday life until about 5-7 years of age.

Why not introduce him to families speaking the alternate language of his birth, then he may (if he wishes!) be able to readopt the national culture of his birthplace in later life?

Answer 4

as if a 6 week old would know how to speak or listen that is a stupid question

Answer 5

Child Language Acquisition will not have even started yet, the child will learn your native tongue as its first language, did you want some just to keep the child in touch with its culture

Answer 6

to be thinking of those things,even though  you won't need to,is just about as good an example of unconditional love as you can get,in my opinion.He must be a real stunner to have captured your heart so much already that you're worrying about things which'll be irrelevant.  here's hoping you and your family have a wonderful life. x*x

Answer 7

Your baby hasn't developed language skills at this point, but he will learn whatever language you teach him.  Right now, he will be looking at your face and the expressions you make to him, he will listen for the tones in your voice, and he will feel your love through your touch.  You do not need to speak to him in his native country's tongue.  Just be his mom and he will understand you with out any doubt!

Answer 8

lmao - I'm loving the gullibility of people on here!

Answer 9

dont worry im sure he can teach you a thing or two lol :)

Answer 10

At 6 weeks old the child will not speak or understand either language. Both of our children were adopted internationally at six months, there was no language barier as they did not speak yet, an they learned to speak english on target for their age.

  I would still be a good idea to learn at least some of the language from your child's birth country, and encourage him to learn too, inorder to help him have a conection to his heritage. However, you don't need to rush to learn this in order to communicate with him while he is still an infant.

Answer 11

Ugg Ugg - whilst scratching your head and swinging from trees.

Answer 12

The Baby is only six weeks old. He won't be talking yet!! He y will pick up what you are saying pretty quick. Have fun! a 6 week old is hard work!

Answer 13

oh goodie!!!! only 6 weeks Ms MInger you can teach him/her all your own phrases.

I am more worried that you were allowed to adopt?? I thought only affluent lesbians and couples were allowed, and umm you and crispy are not exactly flush.  I digress I'm sure you will teach him/her well.

Answer 14

they actually let someone this clueless buy a baby?

Answer 15

He can't speak. Just talk to him in english (or whatever languages you speak) and when he learns to speak, he will speak whatever language you speak.

Answer 16

Oh don't worry, you'll soon pick it up!

Answer 17

At six weeks old the language will not be an issue.  Talk to him in your own language it would be the tone of voice a child would pick up on at this stage.

Answer 18

Communicate with him???  The 6 WEEK old?  Last time I checked kids didn't start talking at that age.  There will be no barrier, he will grow up learning english!

Answer 19

Teach him English.

Answer 20

Don`t worry about the barrier, just wrap him in swaddling

clothes and throw him over it at night time and get one of your friends to get him on the other side.

Answer 21

At six weeks old the baby can't  speak.

Answer 22

This baby is not even 2months old so language is not going to be a problem.  Just speak to him in English he’ll pick it up. Now if you want him to know his native language you could start learning it and then teach him when he is a little older. Unless you have a partner or spouse who would be willing to learn the language and only speak to him in his native language. And you only speak to him in English. In till he gets to a certain age or you could eventually hire a tutor.

Answer 23

a six week old child can't actually talk so it won't make any difference.

Answer 24

At 6 weeks there is no language barrier--he doesn't understand anything at 6 weeks. You wouldn't need to worry about there being a language barrier until a year/18 mos.

Answer 25

Astonishing.

Are you saving these questions and answers for a book?

Answer 26

reported

Answer 27

Don't worry.  At six weeks old the little one will almost certainly speak better English than you - they start 'em early over there!

Answer 28

I am shocked at some of the above response. Yes he is only 6 weeks and yes he will lean English just like a child born here would. But you need to learn Ghanaian anyway and teach it to him as a second language to help preserve his past and his culture.He needs to know his native language for more than basic communication reason it is a tie to his past, to his borth mother, to his other family and to his country. He will thank you for taking the time and effort to learn and teach him when he is grown and decides to return to his home country where he can communicate with shop owners, people on the street and if he is lucky his family. I would also suggest you learn as much about his culture as possible including holidays, customs and dishes. Here is a post I posted a few weeks ago that will give you a better insight into preparing yourself for an international child and language issues. We are preparing to adopt a Romanian child. I am learning the language and customs, holdidays and dishes. Good Luck

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 29

6 weeks old?

baby cant talk at that age dear!!

Answer 30

We adopted a 10 month old. She learned English quickly. Only Chinese she knew was Mamma and Baba ( mom and dad)

Answer 31

Its only 6 weeks old, even the baby does not understand Ghanian, and if you speak english around the baby while the babys growing up it will automatically learn english, and then if you like you can perhaps pay for private tuition in Ghanian so thats it remains close to the roots of where the baby was born!