LANGUAGE SHIFT THE MIJIKENDA-SWAHILI INFLUENCE

 Just like any other language the chonyi language is experiencing changes,the changes have been about by neighboring mijikenda and Swahili languages.
This influence has created a shift of how the chonyi language is spoken between different generations and between different locations.
Swahili Influence (the v-w shift)

even though Swahili originated from mijikenda languages it has in turn come to influence the languages.In chonyi the influence has led the shift from the use of V to w.

Vosi-means all, some chonyi say Wosi to mean all ,this influnce is from the swahili word Wote.W
Vebigana means they have fought some chonyi say webigana ,this is swahili influence from wamepigana.
vombo-wombo
Vebigirwa-Webigirwa
vana-wana

the original chonyi grammar uses V ,the influence of Swahili has changed it to W among some chonyi,mostly the  younger generation and chonyi living near the Swahili use W.

MIJIKENDA INFLUENCE
even though chonyi is a mijikenda language it has been influenced by other neighboring mijikenda tribes.

Kauma Influence

the chonyi who live in dzitsoni and other areas bordering the kauma speak a chonyi dialect that is mixed with Ki kauma,the difference is not that noticeable though ,only few words stand out as chonyi and kauma are really close languages.

Giriama /jiriama Influence

the chonyi border the giriama both in the north and the south,Chonyi who live in places like Kolongoni and mwangaza among others speak a dialect mixed with Giriama and some speak both languages interchangeably. Generally the Chonyi have  also borrowed some giriama words in there vocabulary.

JIbana/Dzihana influence

the jibana are a minority who are sometimes considered as the Achonyi,they however have there own dialect which is seen as a different  chonyi dialect.the chonyi living next to the jibana speak a mixture of both dialects which may borrow few words and have a different sounding accent.