This study evaluates translations from a European into a Nigerian language. By taking a close look at the Nigerian language translations of Radio Nigeria, the manner in which the Nigerian mass media copes with the problem of multilingualism is addressed. Specifically, the translation of English into Yoruba, one of the major languages of Nigeria, is examined. This involves the study of the problem of the transfer of meaning from a major world language with a long written tradition into an African language whose status is not official and whose orthography is not fixed. Evaluations are based on tape-recordings of the Lagos State English news broadcast at the federal radio station and their Yoruba translations. It is concluded that translations largely dependent on extralinguistic factors must take into account the sociolinguistic factors surrounding the original message. Translation of radio news is seen to be the case of processing written material meant for oral delivery into another language where delivery would also be oral. (Author/NCR)