E s t u a r y E n g l i s h 1. T h e c l a i m : “ ‘ E s t u a r y E n g l i s h ’ i s a v a r i e t y o f m o d i f i e d r e g i o n a l s p e e c h. I t i s a m i x t u r e o f n o n - r e g i o n a l a n d l o c a l s o u t h - e a s t e r n E n g l i s h p r o n u n c i a t i o n a n d i n t o n a t i o n. I f o n e i m a g i n e s a c o n t i n u u m w i t h R P a n d L o n d o n s p e e c h a t e i t h e r e n d, ‘ E s t u a r y E n g l i s h ’ s p e a k e r s a r e t o b e f o u n d g r o u p e d i n t h e m i d d l e g r o u n d. [ … ] T h e h e a r t l a n d o f t h i s v a r i e t y l i e s b y t h e b a n k s o f t h e T h a m e s a n d i t s e s t u a r y, b u t i t s e e m s t o b e t h e m o s t i n f l u e n t i a l a c c e n t i n t h e s o u t h - e a s t o f E n g l a n d. ” ( R o s e w a r n e ). Estuary English The claim: “‘Estuary English’ is a variety of modified regional speech. It is a mixture of non-regional and local south-eastern English pronunciation and intonation. If one imagines a continuum with RP and London speech at either end, ‘Estuary English’ speakers are to be found grouped in the middle ground. […] The heartland of this variety lies by the banks of the Thames and its estuary, but it seems to be the most influential accent in the south-east of England.” (Rosewarne 1984). The hype: “Estuary English can nowadays be heard throughout London and the Home Counties and well beyond. […] as far as the north Norfolk coast, … the Dorset coast, …the south Kent coast… beyond the northern boundaries of Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire.” (Coggle 1993: 23, ). Some claim EE is due to replace RP as the educated accent of England (Rosewarne 1994a).

Forhwi to every lovere I me excuse, That of no sentement I this endite, But out of Latyn in my tonge it write. Wherfore I nyl have neither thank ne blame Of al this werk, but prey yow mekely, Disblameth me, if any word be lame, For as myn auctour seyde, so sey I. Ek though I speeke of love unfelyngly, No wondre is, for it nothyng of newe is; A blynd man kan nat juggen wel in hewis. Ye know ek that in forme of speche is chaunge Withinne a thousand yeer, and wordes tho That hadden pris, now wonder nyce and straunge Us thinketh hem, and yet thei spake hem so, Ek for to wynnen love in sondry ages, In sondry londes, sondry ben usages..