1. Eddie Liao History of English Language Prof. Michael Cheng
Cockney Rhyming Slang
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Eddie Liao
History of English Language
Prof. Michael Cheng

2. Outline What is Cockney Rhyming Slang?
When and Where Did Cockney Rhyming Slang Originate?
Why Was Rhyming Slang Invented?
How Rhyming Slang Is Developing?
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3. 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:

4. 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

5. What is Cockney Rhyming Slang?
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6. 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.

7. 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:

8. 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
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9. 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.” s
If you subtract 12 or 15 from 1859, you get a year in 1840s.
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10. 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 .

11. 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.

12. 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
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13. How Rhyming Slang Is Developing?
Ordinary nouns
Give me some bread (and honey) for the pictures.
Bread and honey: money
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14. How Rhyming Slang Is Developing?
Ordinary nouns
Use your loaf (of bread), china (plate).
Loaf of bread: head
China plate: mate (friend)

15. 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
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16. 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.
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17. 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)

18. 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”)
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More info about names of celebrities used in rhyming slang:

19. How Rhyming Slang Is Developing?
Names of personalities
I ‘ate that geezer; he’s a right James (Blunt).
James Blunt: cunt
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20. References Background Picture http://luckoutjess.tumblr.com Contents
Cockney rhyming slang
Dictionary of rhyming slang
Celebrities’ names in rhyming slang