Twi

Twi (/tʃwiː, twiː, tʃiː/;^[1][2] Twi: [tɕᶣi]) is the common name of the Akan literary dialects of Asante and Akuapem.^[3] Effectively, it is a synonym for 'Akan' that is not used by the Fante people. It is not a linguistic grouping, but more of a common name used by inland Akans as Akuapem Twi is more closely related to the Fante dialects than it is to Asante Twi. Aside from the Fante, other Akan groups such as the Nzema, Ahanta, Chakossi, Sefwi, and Baoulé, all classified under the Akan Bia languages, do not use Twi as the name of their dialects. ^[4] Twi generally subsumes the following Akan dialects: Ahafo, Akuapem, Akyem, Asante, Assin, Bono, Denkyira and Kwawu, which have about 4.4 million speakers in southern and central Ghana. A general rule of thumb in Akan-occupied areas is that if the dialect is east of the Bia River and inland, it is a Twi dialect. If it is east of the Bia River and coastal, it is a Fante dialect. If the dialect is west of the Bia River, it belongs to the Akan Bia group. ^[5][6][7]