Communicating identity through inscriptions on vehicles in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality

Abstract

This study examines how vehicle owners and drivers in and around Tarkwa in the Western Region of Ghana use their vehicle inscriptions to construct their identity. With interview and observation, data was collected from twenty inscriptions and analysed. Hecht et al’s communication theory of identity and Adamo Semiotics formed the theoretical framework of the study. Meanings of the inscriptions were also solicited from their authors through interviews. The study discovered that there are social, Christian, Muslim and Traditional identities among drivers and car owners in and around Tarkwa. The study also discovered that the choice of words used in the inscriptions help one to identify the type of identity. Finally, the study recommends to society to identify authors identities using their choice of registers in the inscriptions.