Abstract

This paper examines the speech forms in Urhobo, with the aim of identifying the different dialects in the language. It probes the effects of plenitude dialects in Translation Studies and Translation Practices. The study takes as a starting point the different speech forms spoken in each Urhobo kingdom and local government area. This is based on existing assumptions that each kingdom in Urhobo speaks a distinct dialect. Data for the study were elicited through primary and secondary methods as well as participant-observation. The data were examined using theory of social dialect variation (Kroch, 1978) and persistence theory (Kortmann, 2006). The paper observes that there are multiple dialects in Urhobo. This constitutes a problem in teaching and learning the language. This problem also culminates in the translator‘s pursuit of semantic equivalence observable in the existing literature. The study therefore argues in support of language documentation and a consensus dialect to protect the lects from endangerment.

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