Lundaa as speech surrogate of Dagbamba

Abstract

The paper examines surrogate language in Dagbani, a Mabia language spoken in Northern Region of Ghana. The objectives of the paper are in two folds: it pays attention to its functions and its transformation from traditional to the contemporary sociocultural issues. Premised on participant-observation, the paper supports the multi-toned language represented on a pressure drum capable of many pitches. It attests that the lundaa „pressure drum‟ is a speech surrogate used among Dagbani speakers. The lundaa has a wide distribution of functions but this paper is focused on the core functions of drum language that include molo „announcement‟, salima „Panegyric‟, ց iŋցaani „invocation‟ and ŋaha „proverbs‟ as examples of drum literature and transformation. The paper suggests that the communication potential of the lundaa rhythms and its interpretation leads to an understanding of the sociocultural life of the people.