Eddie Liao History of English Language Prof. Michael Cheng Cockney Rhyming Slang Background picture: http://popuppainting.com/event/paint-london-urban-meadow-bayswater-friday-27-november/ Eddie Liao History of English Language Prof. Michael Cheng

Outline What is Cockney Rhyming Slang? When and Where Did Cockney Rhyming Slang Originate? Why Was Rhyming Slang Invented? How Rhyming Slang Is Developing? Background pic: https://byroyalappointment.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/london-cityscape/

What is Cockney Rhyming Slang? A native of East London, traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells St Mary-le-Bow Church, Cheapside, London A Cockney is traditionally a person born within earshot of Bow Bells, the bells of St Mary-le-Bow Church in Cheapside, London. But now it is used to refer to those in East London, or those working-class Londoners. St Mary-le-Bow Church pic: http://openbuildings.com/buildings/st-mary-le-bow-profile-12973

What is Cockney Rhyming Slang? A native of East London, traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells St Mary-le-Bow Church, Cheapside, London

What is Cockney Rhyming Slang? Pic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_London

What is Cockney Rhyming Slang? A type of slang in which words are replaced by words or phrases they rhyme with The rhyming element sometimes omitted “I’d like to have a butcher’s.” Butcher’s hook look A rhyming slang expression is usually composed of a couple of words or is a phrase. The rhyming element of a rhyming slang expression is the last word of the expression and is sometimes omitted. There is no rules about when the rhyming element should be dropped; it is simply a matter of convention. http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/06/rhyming-slang/

When and Where Did Cockney Rhyming Slang Originate? In the mid-19th century in the East End of London several sources suggest some time in the 1840s East End of London: there are no exact boundaries of East End, but approximately east of the Roman and medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. For more info about East End, please go to this site: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_End_of_London

When and Where Did Cockney Rhyming Slang Originate? In the mid-19th century in the East End of London several sources suggest some time in the 1840s pic of East End: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_End_of_London

When and Where Did Cockney Rhyming Slang Originate? John Camden Hotten’s A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words (1859) “I learn that the rhyming slang was introduced about twelve or fifteen years ago.” 1840s If you subtract 12 or 15 from 1859, you get a year in 1840s. Pic: https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmode00hottiala

When and Where Did Cockney Rhyming Slang Originate? Edward Jeringham Wakefield’s Adventure in New Zealand (1845) Jimmy-grant: immigrant People first see rhyming slang used in writing in Edward Jeringham Wakefield’s Adventure in New Zealand .

Why Was Rhyming Slang Invented? Linguistic accident Game Cryptolect to confuse non-locals For traders to facilitate collusion For criminals to confuse the police Cryptolect : A secret or arcane language used by a particular group or section of a community.

How Rhyming Slang Is Developing? Ordinary nouns I fell from the apples (and pears) because I was elephant’s (trunk). The word(s) in round brackets is usually omitted. Apples and pears: stairs Elephant’s trunk: drunk Pic: http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/06/rhyming-slang/

How Rhyming Slang Is Developing? Ordinary nouns Give me some bread (and honey) for the pictures. Bread and honey: money Pic: http://news.mastakongo.com/index.php?p=low&mode=topic&id=750&sid=f5766aed5f49187348e57f0805ad90a3

How Rhyming Slang Is Developing? Ordinary nouns Use your loaf (of bread), china (plate). Loaf of bread: head China plate: mate (friend)

How Rhyming Slang Is Developing? Ordinary nouns My trouble (and strife) is waiting for me at pope (in Rome). Trouble and strife: wife Pope in Rome: home pic:http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/scottishnews/3181055/Trouble-and-strife-in-Scotland.html

How Rhyming Slang Is Developing? Ordinary nouns Would you Adam and Eve it? Adam and Eve: believe This slang expression is always used as a whole; “and Eve” can never be dropped. Pic: http://biologos.org/blogs/dennis-venema-letters-to-the-duchess/adam-eve-apologetics-and-christian-witness

How Rhyming Slang Is Developing? Locations in London Hampstead Heath (hampsteads; hamps): teeth She must be going out - she's got her Barnet (fair) done. I'm putting on my best bag (of fruit) and my new peckham (rye) to the wedding ceremony. Barnet fair: hair Bag of fruit: suit Peckham rye: tie (necktie)

How Rhyming Slang Is Developing? Names of personalities I’m bloody Hank Marvin. 'ow about some Ruby (Murray) and a Britney (Spears)? Hank Marvin: starving (starvin’) (a famous guitarist from British band “The Shadows”) Ruby Murray: curry (a famous Irish songbird in the 1950s, just preceding a time when Indian cuisine took Britain by storm) Britney Spears: bears (since “Spears” is usually omitted, when indicating plural, add an “s” after “Britney”) Pics: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/290130400965770655/?from_navigate=true http://ats.filcampbell.com/img/Ruby_Murray.jpg https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/694936761760256001/CWV0dR6v.jpg More info about names of celebrities used in rhyming slang: http://hubpages.com/entertainment/30-Cockney-Rhyming-Slang-expressions-Using-Famous-People http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4551167.stm

How Rhyming Slang Is Developing? Names of personalities I ‘ate that geezer; he’s a right James (Blunt). James Blunt: cunt Pic: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/technology/techreview/article3928372.ece http://hubpages.com/entertainment/30-Cockney-Rhyming-Slang-expressions-Using-Famous-People

References Background Picture http://luckoutjess.tumblr.com Contents Cockney rhyming slang https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyming_slang http://www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk/ http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~kemmer/Words04/usage/slang_cockney.html http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/06/rhyming-slang/ Dictionary of rhyming slang http://aldertons.com/home/slang/ Celebrities’ names in rhyming slang http://hubpages.com/entertainment/30-Cockney-Rhyming-Slang-expressions-Using-Famous-People