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.

NUMBERS & COUNTING

NUMBERS (Eng -Chonyi -Swahili)

1 Mwenga -moja
2 Mbiri-mbili
3 Tahu- Tatu
4 Inne -Nne
5 Tsano-Tano
6 Sita/andahu (old usage)- Sita
7 Saba -Saba
8 Nane-nane
9 Chenda-Tisa
10.Humi-Kumi
20.Mirongo- ishirini
50.Mirongo Mitsano-hamsini
100.Gana-Mia Moja

For Swahili speakers,1 is different

3, 4, 5,6,7 and perhaps 2 & 10 have a small difference in pronunciation 

9 is completely different. 

 8 stays the same.

CHONYI ALPHABET & SPELLING

notes
mij- mijikenda
swh-swahili
eng -english

SUBJECT CONCORD
U -you
a-he/she
Mu -you guys
Fu-we (exclusive) from giriama
Ma-they swh (wa)
Hu-we (inclusive) Swh (tu)
Ni-i am- na


Chonyi Alphabet
a,b,ch,d,dh,dz,e,f,g,i.j.k.l,m,m,ng'ny,o,p,ph,r,s,sh,t,ts,th,u,v,w,y,z,zh

SPELLING AND PRONUNCIATION
dz=j emaple Jana is swahili becomes dzana in mijikenda
gbw- bw  example dungwa in swahili becomes dungbwa in mijikenda
kpw = kw example kwetu ni swahili becomes Kpwehu in mijikenda
v(ph)

INTRODUCTION TO CHONYI (MIJIKENDA) LANGUAGE

LEARN MIJIKENDA ONLINE

IT was with great concern that i did not find any written document of the Mijikenda Chonyi language anywhere,there is record of the larger Giriama and Digo Mijikenda languages but are still hard to come by.that is why i was inspired to but together a list of chonyi vocabulary words,below is an introduction to the chonyi language.
hopefully it shall be used in assisting anyone who wants to learn mijikenda specifically the chonyi dialect and also preserve the language for future generations.

written by lennox m. Zamora
edited by brian k. Nyale

MIJIKENDA -ENGLISH-SWAHILI DICTIONARY (CHONYI DIALECT)

INTRODUCTION

CHONYI or chichonyi is one of the dialects of the mijikenda language spoken by the Achonyi community in the Kenyan coast.the chonyi language is similar to all the other eight Mijikenda languages  (Giriama ,Digo,Kambe,Jibana,Ribe,Rabai,kauma,Duruma) and is related to Swahili some sources put the similarities at around 75% to 80% therefore it should be easy for a Swahili speaker to comprehend this language.
among the mijikenda the chonyi language is closely related to the Jibana and the Kauma languages,however all mijikenda tribes understand the chonyi dialect and each other.
the chonyi traditional music is known as chiringongo or kiringongo among the giriama and features a xylophone which is rare in Kenyan music.(chi)chonyi is spoken mainly in kilifi county ,they border the giriama to the north in Malindi the Kauma to the north west the Swahili to the east the Jibana to the the south east and the giriama again to  the south in kaloleni.

Mijikenda elders source (Daily Nation)