The Cockney dialect was long frowned upon by anyone who felt superior to this allegedly substandard, uneducated and vulgar manner of speaking. The Cockneys were considered stupid, poor and uneducated themselves. That was the prevailing attitude towards Cockney until very recently when the acceptance of the dialect and its speakers noticeably changed.
What is a Cockney, though? A true Cockney has to have been born within the sound of the Bow Bells of St Mary-le-Bow Church in London's East End. The Cockney distinguishes himself by staying true to his origins deeply linked to the dialect. Cockney is one of the most remarkable dialects all over the Englishspeaking world. Back in 1938, though, William Matthews, author of "Cockney - Past and Present",feared the decline of the dialect altogether because of the virtually non-existing acceptance in English society.
Cockney was mainly a working-class accent, but was also aquired by criminals who enjoyed the population's incapability to understand the accent and dialect. The dialect was eventually made a scapegoat for the corruption of Standard English. A lot has changed since. When having a look at popular culture today, one might have the impression that the perception of the dialect has revolutionised. Cockney even seems to be on the rise again, being promoted by films like "Lock, Stock" and "Two Smoking Barrels", "Snatch",and music by "The Streets" for instance.
In this paper, I want to examine in how far the recent obervations can be seen as a development of taking Cockney characteristics over into present-day English. By present-day English neither Received Pronunciation (RP) nor any other kind of Standard English (StE) is exclusively meant, but rather a broad definition of the English that can really be heard in England. Nonetheless, comparisons to RP and StE will be found because points of reference will be needed in the course of this paper. In the first part, Cockney will be contrasted to RP, for example, to illustrate its variation from the standard. The Cockney that forms the basis for the paper is the modern dialect. Like any other language it has undergone a great change since it was first recorded and to examine or only include several stages of its development would go beyond the scope of this paper.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Characteristics of the Cockney Dialect
- Pronunciation
- Vowels
- Glottalling
- H dropping
- Dark /l/
- Replacement of Dental Fricatives
- Grammar
- Cockney Rhyming Slang
- Pronunciation
- Cockney Influence on Present-Day English
- Possible Influences
- Pronunciation
- Grammar
- Cockney Rhyming Slang
- Cockney as the New Standard English?
- Possible Influences
- Summary and Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to investigate the extent to which Cockney characteristics have influenced present-day English. It examines the Cockney dialect, contrasting it with Received Pronunciation (RP) and Standard English (StE), and analyzes its impact on pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. The paper also considers the changing perception of Cockney in popular culture and speculates on its future.
- The characteristics of the Cockney dialect, focusing on pronunciation, grammar, and rhyming slang.
- The historical perception of Cockney and its recent resurgence in popular culture.
- Potential influences of Cockney on present-day English pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.
- Comparison of Cockney to Received Pronunciation and Standard English.
- A prognosis for the future of the Cockney dialect.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the Cockney dialect, its historical perception as substandard and vulgar, and its recent shift in acceptance. It defines a "true Cockney" and explains the paper's scope: to examine the influence of Cockney on present-day English, using a broad definition of present-day English and comparing it to RP and StE. The chapter outlines the paper's structure: analyzing Cockney characteristics (pronunciation, grammar, rhyming slang) and then assessing its influence on present-day English, culminating in a future prognosis.
Characteristics of the Cockney Dialect: This chapter delves into the features of the Cockney dialect. It begins with pronunciation, acknowledging the dialect's variations and focusing on the vowel shift, which distinguishes Cockney from RP. The chapter explains the chain shift effect where the pronunciation of one vowel impacts the pronunciation of others, providing a visual representation of the differences between Cockney and RP vowel systems. Additionally, it discusses aspects of Cockney grammar and the unique and creative use of Cockney rhyming slang. The chapter emphasizes that not all Cockney speakers use all the features described, and the characteristics presented represent a range of variations.
Cockney Influence on Present-Day English: This chapter explores the potential influence of Cockney on present-day English. It examines potential influences on pronunciation, grammar, and the use of Cockney rhyming slang in broader English. The chapter will analyze examples and discuss the extent to which Cockney features have permeated everyday spoken English, beyond just RP or StE. It ponders the question of whether Cockney might be considered a new form of Standard English or if it maintains its identity as a distinct dialect. It analyzes the role of popular culture in shaping the perception of Cockney.
Keywords
Cockney dialect, Received Pronunciation (RP), Standard English (StE), pronunciation, grammar, Cockney rhyming slang, popular culture, language change, linguistic variation, sociolinguistics.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Cockney English
What is the overall focus of this language preview?
This preview comprehensively examines the Cockney dialect, focusing on its characteristics (pronunciation, grammar, rhyming slang) and its potential influence on present-day English. It compares Cockney to Received Pronunciation (RP) and Standard English (StE), considers its changing perception in popular culture, and speculates on its future.
What are the key themes explored in this preview?
Key themes include the defining characteristics of Cockney, its historical and contemporary perception, its potential impact on modern English, a comparison with RP and StE, and a prognosis for its future development.
What specific aspects of Cockney pronunciation are discussed?
The preview delves into several aspects of Cockney pronunciation, including vowel shifts (with a visual representation of the differences compared to RP), glottalling, H-dropping, the use of dark /l/, and the replacement of dental fricatives. It emphasizes that not all Cockney speakers utilize all these features.
How does the preview address Cockney grammar and rhyming slang?
The preview discusses unique grammatical features of Cockney and provides detailed information on its creative and distinctive rhyming slang. It acknowledges the variations within the dialect.
What is the preview's approach to assessing Cockney's influence on present-day English?
The preview explores the potential influence of Cockney on present-day English pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary, providing examples and analyzing the extent to which Cockney features have permeated everyday spoken English. It also considers whether Cockney could be considered a new form of Standard English.
How does the preview incorporate the role of popular culture?
The preview examines the changing perception of Cockney in popular culture and its influence on the dialect's evolution and acceptance.
What is the structure of the preview?
The preview is structured into sections covering the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries (Introduction, Characteristics of the Cockney Dialect, Cockney Influence on Present-Day English), and keywords.
What are the key differences between Cockney, RP, and StE highlighted in this preview?
The preview contrasts Cockney with RP and StE, particularly focusing on pronunciation differences (e.g., vowel shifts). It aims to analyze the extent to which Cockney features have influenced or might influence the development of present-day English, rather than simply establishing strict boundaries between the three.
What is the conclusion or prognosis offered regarding the future of Cockney?
The preview speculates on the future of the Cockney dialect, considering its evolving status and potential continued influence on broader English usage.
What keywords are associated with this language preview?
The keywords include: Cockney dialect, Received Pronunciation (RP), Standard English (StE), pronunciation, grammar, Cockney rhyming slang, popular culture, language change, linguistic variation, sociolinguistics.
- Quote paper
- Sarah Rusch (Author), 2006, Cockney. Its Characteristics and Its Influence on Present-Day English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/63070
