The shortest explanation is probably “because it rhymes.” There are some theories as to why certain phrases were chosen for different words, but trying to ascribe meaning to all of them is essentially impossible. While the following list isn’t comprehensive, here are some of the better-known phrases in Cockney rhyming slang. And while we mentioned that the concept of Cockney rhyming slang traces back to the 19th century, many of these terms came about during and after World War II. But it’s not entirely gone, and there are Cockney phrases that are in common use among certain people today. The use of Cockney rhyming slang has definitely been in decline for the past several decades as the media and internet homogenizes accents. No matter the reason it exists, being able to effect a proper Cockney accent has for decades been considered a certain kind of “cool.” And there’s a penalty if you get it wrong: people who try but fail to sound Cockney are said to be speaking “Mockney.” If you’re going to try out some Cockney rhyming slang, be warned that you might rub people the wrong way. It’s not all money, though a lot of Cockney slang has to do with genitalia and bodily functions. The fact so many examples of Cockney slang have to do with money is good evidence of this. They may have made a game out of creating rhyming slang, and used it to charm passersby (or, less charitably, used it to confuse passersby into spending more money than they meant to). Being part of an in-group is historically a driving force in language change.Īnother option is that rhyming slang was created by costermongers, who were the people who sold goods on the street. It doesn’t necessarily need to relate to crime, though some think it was just Cockneys trying to confuse outsiders. One possibility is that the slang was created by thieves and outlaws who wanted to evade the prying eyes (or ears) of others. Rhyming slang could be a cryptolect, which is a language that is purposefully impenetrable to outsiders. But there are a few theories as to why this phenomenon would occur. It generally doesn’t make sense to add words to a language that make it harder to understand. The “why” of rhyming slang is a bit tougher. It’s generally agreed that it first started to appear in the 19th century, with some estimates placing its origin in the 1840s. We also know the “when” of rhyming slang. While fanciful, the radius of the Bow Bells’ clang has shrunk due to noise pollution, while the boundaries of “Cockney” have extended. While the boundaries of the East End are a bit hazy, there is one theory that to identify as Cockney, you have to be “born within the sound of Bow Bells.” This refers to the bells inside the church of St. The Cockney accent is local to the East End of London, which is historically a more working-class area of the city. The “where” of Cockney rhyming slang is pretty easy to answer. This isn’t some silly linguistic quirk it’s a feature of language spoken by real people. If this all sounds needlessly complicated, that’s because it is! But it’s important to remember that like any slang, treating it as an oddity would be a mistake. For example, you start with the concept of stairs, which you might call “steps and stairs.” Then, you find the rhyming phrase “apples and pears.” And “apples and pears” is quite a mouthful, so you would shorten it just to “apples.” And just like that, you can go around saying “The loo is up the apples” to say that the bathroom is on the second floor. At its core, all it does is take one concept and replace it with another. Rhyming slang, for the uninitiated, can be incredibly confusing. (For authentic Cockney, listen to Michael Caine.) Yet beyond the chimney sweep stereotype, Cockney is most famous for a peculiar feature: Cockney rhyming slang. But Van Dyke was so roundly criticized for his terrible Cockney that the actor apologized for it 50 years later. Americans might be most familiar with the accent as it was performed by Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. Even if you’ve never heard of it before, you’ve definitely heard it. Even within the city of London, you can hear all kinds of inflections, including another one of the most famous English accents: Cockney. This accent - called “Received Pronunciation” - is only one of several. When you think “English accent,” maybe you immediately imagine someone who speaks as poshly as the royal family.
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