The experience from these surveys may be condensed as follows:
In most publications the local language in north central Namibia is called “Oshiwambo” but that is just a common name for the seven distinct dialects in the area: Oshikwanyama, Oshindonga, Oshikwambi,  Oshingandjera, Oshimbalantu, Oshikwaludhi and Oshikolonkadhi (&Eunda). All names of dialects use the language prefix: “Oshi-”. 

Estimated proportion of dialects in north central Namibia. (based on rounded figures from "Peoples of Namibia" by Prof. J.S. Malan, 1995)
 

The term “Oshiwambo” should generally be avoided as being too vague, unless a certain word is used by all or most of the dialects. In future the dialects may merge into a common language but at present one should try to record the precise dialect when local words are used, for instance Omboga (Oshindonga) 

Experience from various surveys show that words for plants, etc. can vary considerably between the dialects. In some cases, the word in one dialect even refers to another species in other dialects. (e.g. Ombudje refers to the edible Sesbania pachycarpa in Oshikwambi,  while Ombudje is used for the inedible wild sesamum in Oshikwanyama).

Each of the seven dialect is mainly used in a specific area. One would for instance expect a farmer near Engela in Ohangwena region to speak Oshikwanyama.  However, with increased mobility in Namibia after independence, one should record the dialect of the interviewed person in cases where local words are used. In the rural areas there is still a clear linkage between area and dialect, but the urban populations are now so mixed that all dialects are spoken there. Intermarriages are also common, so husband and wife may not speak the same dialect.

There are up to 13 noun groups in most of the dialects. This easily causes grammatical confusion when nouns are recorded. Singular and plural forms are indicated by different prefixes in the noun groups and forms of the same word may therefore easily be listed as different names, when reports are compiled by non-Oshiwambo speakers

Correct spelling is not easy to achieve in local dialects that were not written until recently. The translation committees therefore often disagree about the correct translations and spelling. It has also been noted that many well-educated Namibians nowadays find it difficult to make proper translations into their own mother tongue. Spelling is also made difficult by the fact that dictionaries are only available for some of the major dialects, e.g. Oshindonga and Oshikwanyama.