Cockney Rhyming Slang Introduction The Language Area example essay topic

JONATHON KENEDY English 2.8 "You can say that again" Research Report: Cockney Rhyming Slang Introduction The language area that I have researched is that of Cockney Rhyming Slang. In the following paragraphs I will be discussing the origins of this type of slang, uses, effectiveness and also the influence of Rhyming Slang on everyday English language all through a series of questions. Q. 1 What is Cockney Rhyming Slang? Cockney Rhyming Slang is an amusing, creative and widely underestimated part of the English language. The way it works is that you take a pair of associated words where the second word rhymes with the word you intend to say. For example one of the most famous ones, apples and pears, meaning Stairs follows these rules. Usually however, through the development of the English language, the rhyming slang is abbreviated to just the first word, so in the example above it would become just apples.

This jumbling of words makes a sentence much harder to understand and when a sentence includes more than one element of Rhyming Slang the meaning becomes so obscure that it causes confusion to foreigners to Cockney Rhyming Slang. Which hence is its original purpose, as a form of coded speech, once used by the under world of London. Q. 2 Where did Cockney Rhyming Slang originate and how did it establish itself in everyday English language? Cockney Rhyming Slang is one of the most popular slangs around, now heard all throughout the English specking world. It originally developed in the area of inner London, known as the East End. This area, Cockney London, is defined as being that within the sound of Bow Bells, belonging to the Church of St Mary Le Bow. Slang as defined by web as a "kind of language occurring chiefly in casual and playful speech, made up typically of short-lived coinages and figures of speech that are deliberately used in place of standard terms for added raciness, humour, irreverence, or other effect" The word Cockney means cock's egg, a small malformed egg that is occasionally laid by young chickens.

This term was used by country folk and was applied to town's folk who were considered ignorant of established customs and country ways, in mid 1800's. This term has now however lost its meaning but is still used to refer to anyone from London itself. Rhyming Slang is believed to begin its life as the tongue of the London street trader, to conceal unlawful practises from the public and illegal activities from the newly established Police force, the Peelers. Another speculation is how from the being such a localised dialect it gained so much prominence over the world? In reading an extract of "East Enders, then and now" I learnt that Cockney Rhyming Slang was created by the underworld of London as a type of coded language so Police couldn't understand there conversations.

So as a reaction it was necessary for the Police to learn this criminal language, and so they did and with subsequent publications in law enforcement manuals Cockney Rhyming Slang became widely known and used in other countries, along with the normal movement and distribution of the Cockney people. Q. 3 What Cockney Rhyming Slang terms can be heard in English Language of New Zealand? Cockney Rhyming Slang is an amusing, creative dialect that is so established in English specking countries, even in New Zealand, that many people unknowingly use it in everyday speech. You would have heard several established terms used in conversations and New Zealand broadcasts audio and visual. In listening to The Edge, a teenage radio station, I heard two famous examples of Rhyming Slang, the first being "I haven't heard a dickie bird about it".

In that dickie bird means word. The second example heard was "Scarper Alex, the police are coming" In that scarper is in an abbreviated form of scarper flow meaning go. These examples show that even though Cockney Rhyming Slang originated over 150 years ago in Britain, it has had such a huge influence and popularity that it is being slipped into New Zealand everyday language, becoming accepted and quite alright to use. Other examples I heard during the holidays were from watching such shows as Mike King at Night and Shortland Street, examples of Cockney Rhyming Slang popped up everywhere, these included: "Are you telling porkies" (porkies = pork pies = lies) "Fire Truck" ( = f-k) "Use your loaf and think next time" (loaf = loaf of bread = head) "Me old china" (china = china plate = mate) "You " ve lost your marbles" (marbles = marbles and conkers = bonkers) "Mind for a cup of Rosie?" (Rosie = Rosie lee = tea) These examples of Cockney Rhyming Slang have also been adapted into ordinary New Zealand dialect changing the tone of the speech and making it more interesting and mysterious to the listeners. However, as above, language has morphed and abbreviated the Cockney terms to fit more comfortable in the way we speck not the way British people speck. Q. 4 What influence does Cockney Rhyming Slang have on modern rhyming slang? Due to the popularity and acceptance of many countries using Cockney Rhyming slang there has been a development of countries own kind of rhyming slang influenced by the original Cockney Rhyming Slang created over 150 years ago.

Modern Cockney derived slang is popping up in everyday speech, trying to infiltrate the English language and is usually developed by adolescents, especially young males in an attempt to strengthen their identity. Examples of this new type of rhyming slang can be heard in school yards all throughout New Zealand, "Your such a dipstick" meaning prick and "Just going to take a Johnny riddle" meaning piddle / piss. However amusing, these slangs will die as quickly as they appeared, unlike Cockney Rhyming Slang, but they can be used to show the influence that the original Cockney Rhyming Slang has on everyday English language. Also modern rhyming slang often utilises the name of famous people who through their actions carry the meaning. Two famous examples are Damiron Hill meaning Pill, which is commonly used in the nightclub scene and well known by most teenagers. Also Tony Blair, meaning Flairs of hair, which along with others can be read in many articles on the website web So it can be seen that the spreading of Cockney Rhyming slang is still not only being used but has also spurred a new type of modern slang used by adolescents in our country.

Conclusion It can be seen that the Cockney Rhyming Slang has been adapted to other countries out of London very effectively and still is strong within the New Zealand language. It has aided the creation of modern slang adding humour, confusion and mystery to the foreigner of the language. It has been around for more than 150 years and will probably last for a further 150 years being a major influence of the English language.