ABSTRACT
This research is a comparative study of Ukwani spoken in Kwale and Orogun to discover their relation and to see the influence of Urhobo on Ukwani spoken in Orogun. Generally, comparative linguistics is the comparison between two or more languages to ascertain their relationship.
This research aims at bringing out the similarities and differences between UK and UO, using the lexicostatistics theoretical framework as put forward by Swadesh (1995). This work employed the primary and secondary data collection technique. The primary data was collected from the native speakers through the use of a Word List of Basic Vocabulary – 200 Diagnostic Items and a recorder.
The native speakers were between the ages of 20 – 75 years mostly Senior Secondary Certificate holder. While the secondary data was sourced from articles, textbook, journals and internet.
Major results of this study is that, Ukwani in Orogun and Ukwani Kwale share 80.5% similarities and 19.5% differences. Ukwani Orogun and Urhobo share 11% similarities and 89% differences. There were also cases of borrowing from Urhobo to Ukwani Orogun (UO).
The conclusion of this research is that, UO and UK are dialect of the same language.
