What is the difference between swahili and kiswahili

Marieke Lensvelt. It has roots in Arabic. It has millions of speakers. It developed as a coastal trading language. It is spoken in many countries. There are lots of dialects. Give us feedback. Read Next View. Guest House Jane Naivasha. Annoda's Homes. At church, at the market, at the workplace, and in everyday life, Swahili is spoken more commonly and frequently. French is usually reserved for official meetings.

Stewart, my Kiswahili instructor explained that if you cut the country down the middle, the East speaks predominately Swahili and the West speaks Lingala. Help Remember Me? Advanced Search. Thread: Swahili vs Kiswahili. Swahili vs Kiswahili Is there a difference between Swahili and Kiswahili?

Or is it the same thing? Something like "Arab" and "Arabic. It is not worth learning such words as they keep changing every two to three months! Thus, anyone who uses the so-called "bombs" is generally regarded as being superior to those who do not understand them!

Basically, "Sheng" is a new colloquial Swahili variation spoken mostly by young people in Nairobi. It is admixed with a concoction of Swahili, English and vernacular languages in Kenya.

However, the grammar used is mostly as in Swahili. Only some words mostly nouns and verbs have been adopted from other languages and adapted to Swahili regarding spelling and pronunciation. Moreover, the noun class agreements are totally mixed up.

But any Swahili speaker would understand most of what is being said. Many East African musicians sing in "Swanglish". Thus it would be fair to say that colloquial Swahili spoken in Dar-es-Salaam on the one hand, and Sheng on the other, are inevitably drifting apart.