On November 20, 1906, Dennis and Anyaegbunam prepared for the Language Conference scheduled for November 26–27 in Egbu, convened to finalize procedures for a new Union Bible translation.
Archdeacon Crowther and Rev. Boyle arrived ahead of the conference, with Boyle also bringing plant cuttings for Dennis to plant. Additional participants soon followed, including Anyaegbunam, A. C. Onyeabo, and Messrs. Smith and Lloyd. On November 25, an open-air service drew approximately 150 attendees, followed by the first Communion service held at Egbu, during which 16 people received the sacrament.
During the conference, Dennis presented his completed translation of part of the Old Testament in Upper Niger Ibo. Archdeacon Crowther reported that Mr. Green would assist with the Union translation. Green brought completed manuscripts of the New Testament and part of the Old Testament, which were made available for review and critique.
The conference formally supported the translation effort, provided an Ibo–English dictionary, and agreed to begin translating the Gospel of Mark into a Union Version, with manuscript critiques to take place every two weeks. At the conclusion of the conference, Dennis expressed optimism about the progress made since the previous July. He resolved to focus on the new translation while balancing health and missionary responsibilities, as Mattie undertook typewriting work alongside her teaching duties. Translation work was scheduled to begin on December 3, with a goal of approximately eight hours per day, except for shorter hours on Saturdays.
During this period, Dennis also planted several fruit trees, including mangoes and oranges, with plans to add bananas in the future. Early translation challenges included terminology, such as rendering the word “gospel” as “good message.” A greater difficulty arose with translating the phrase “God’s Son,” as there was no direct Ibo equivalent for the word “son.”
Dennis noted that translating the Ibo language presented two major challenges: the inherent limitations of the language and the variations across dialects. Many biblical concepts, including spirit, sin, and salvation, lacked direct Ibo equivalents, requiring paraphrasing or the temporary use of English terms with later explanation. Ibo grammar further complicated the work, particularly in relation to tense, mood, and the expression of strong emotions, and Dennis emphasized that spoken Ibo differed significantly from its written form.
The creation of a Union Version of the Ibo Bible proved especially difficult due to dialect diversity and differences in pronunciation. Pronunciation variations were identified as the greatest obstacle. In the Onitsha dialect, the letter “h” is often replaced with “f,” and sometimes with “v” or “w.” As a result, words such as ehi could appear as efi or evi, while ha might become fa, wa, or wo. Onitsha speakers also frequently substituted “l” for “r,” and vice versa, producing variations such as miri being pronounced mil’i in Onitsha and mini elsewhere.
Challenges of Diverse Dialects in Creating One Language
During Dennis’s study of Ibo dialects for the Union Version, he came to believe that many smaller tribes, each with their own distinct languages, had been absorbed over time by larger and more dominant Ibo nations. He also considered it likely that prolonged periods of disorder and frequent conflict prior to British rule contributed to dialect variation, as fear of violence or enslavement often prevented people from traveling far from their home areas.
Another conference was scheduled, with Smith arriving on November 14 to lead the proceedings. Archdeacon Crowther and Rev. Boyle joined the following day. Dennis reflected that the peculiarities of the dialects made the translation work more difficult than expected, yet he remained hopeful and believed that divine guidance would assist them through these challenges. The conference concluded on November 16, with Dennis serving as chair and Smith as secretary. Representatives from Onitsha attended, along with others who traveled from Ungwana.
A few days earlier, the team had celebrated the completion of the first draft of the New Testament. Revisions were now set to begin, with an assistant from Ungwana joining the translation team. In a discussion dated March 4, 1908, Dennis noted that the new translation was primarily based on the Greek text, with reference to the English Revised Version and several local Ibo translations.
The manuscripts were typed, and multiple copies were sent to locations including Onitsha and Bonny, though responses from local committees were limited. Several translation challenges emerged, including changes to how interrogatives were marked. The team agreed to use “ugbua” for “now” and “ebigh-ebigh” for “forever,” replacing earlier selected terms.
Dennis planned to revise the New Testament draft and circulate it again for further suggestions, with the aim of completing the text by the end of April so it could be sent for printing. The group also agreed to include a preface offering guidance to readers and discussed various translation matters, including specific doctrinal terms. As organizing another meeting in 1908 appeared impractical, they decided that the next conference would take place in 1909.