UNDERSTANDING COCKNEY ŽSV, 1. rujna Marinko Uremović
COCKNEY Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End. Linguistically, it refers to the form of English spoken by this group.
Features of Cockney English Possessive me – me house Drop the h sound – Im aving… Pronunciation of th (thief, this, brother) Question tags – innit Double negative I didn't see nuffink.
COCKNEY RHYMING SLANG Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's dialect or language.
HISTORY John Camden Hotten in his 1859 Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant and Vulgar Words writes about (English) rhyming slang originated in the 1840s with costermongers. Used by criminals in order to hide true meaning from the police.
Nowadays cockney rhyming slang is used mostly when talking about some dodgy business (obscene words, basic phyiscal needs, men commenting on women) or when you want to obscure the meaning of what is said from outsiders. Some expressions have become a part of standard English (Use your loaf!)
Used in contemporary culture: Guy Ritchie movies Only Fools and Horses Clockwork Orange Mind Your Language Austin Powers – Goldmember Eastenders Various songs
Not indigenous to East London any more Cockney Rhyming Slang can be found throughout the UK, America, Australia…
How is it used? Ello me ol China, I avent seen you in donkeys.
China Plate Donkeys ears
China Plate =mate Donkeys ears = years
Ello me ol China (Plate), I avent seen you in donkeys (ears). Hello my old mate, I havent seen you in years.
Bull and cow row, fight
Trouble and Strife wife Me trouble is waiting for me.
Dustbin Lids kids Alternative: teapot lids
Frog and Toad road
Rub a Dub pub
Brahms and Liszt pissed He's well Brahms and Liszt, don't give im any more to drink.
Jack the Dandy brandy
Dickie Dirt shirt
Daisy Roots boots
Apples and Pears stairs
Hampstead Heath teeth I'm going down the dentists to get me hampsteads checked.
Half-inch pinch (steal) Someone's half-inched me pint!
Rabbit and Pork Talk He would not stop rabbitting!
Rosie Lee Tea Fancy a cup of Rosie Lee?
Dog and bone phone
Cherry Hogg dog
Pork pie lie Blimey - he gets two beers in im and he starts telling porkies.
Scooby-Doo clue I haven't got a scooby.
Mutt and Jeff (mutton) deaf Hes mutt and jeff. You have to talk up.
Boat race face She looks awright from behind, but you wanna see the boat mate
Butchers Hook look Have a butchers at that geezer!
Loaf of Bread head Use your loaf next time!
Mince Pies eyes What nice mince pies shes got!
Barnet Fair hair I'm 'avin my Barnet chopped on sa'aday.
Bees and honey money Can't go in there without any bees.
Ginger Beer queer, homosexual
Donkeys Ears years
Plates of Meat feet I need to rest me plates for a moment!
Pigs ear beer Come on, let me buy you a pig in a rub a dub.
Nelly Duff puff, breath – life Not on your Nelly!
All Time Loser boozer
North and South mouth What big north shes got!
Adam and Eve believe I just cant Adam and Eve it!
Gregory Peck Neck Get that pint dahn yer Gregory.
Whistle and Flute suit Fancy whistle, me old China!
Barney Rouble trouble He got into a real barney last night!
Dickory Dock clock I need to be home before dickory hits twelve.
Lady Godiva fiver, five pounds
Jam Jar car
Brown Bread dead
Classic Cockney vs. mockney vs. popney Classic Cockney – well established with long history Mockney – Cockney spoken by people coming from a middle or upper-middle class background (Guy Ritchie, Jamie Oliver, Lily Allen) Popney – modern slang depicting contemporary celebrities (Britney Spears, Bradd Pitt, Emma Freuds)
Difficulties Cultural references (mutt and jeff) Geographical references (Hampstead Heath) Prone to change (Britney Spears for beers) A lot of profanity Cockney will die out in the next generation
Would you use it in your class? Why or why not? How would you use it?
Tom Hanks for your attention!