A LONDONER Explains How to Speak COCKNEY (London accent)

LetThemTalkTV
31 May 201912:55
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this episode of LetThemTalkTV, the host explores the Cockney accent, a working-class London dialect that has evolved from a stigma to a badge of pride. The video offers a simplified, jargon-free lesson on the accent's unique pronunciation, expressions, and vocabulary. With the help of a 'Cockneyometer,' viewers learn about the accent's spectrum, from basic sound changes to Cockney rhyming slang, providing a fun and educational glimpse into London's linguistic culture.

Takeaways
  • 🗨️ The Cockney accent is a working-class accent from London, particularly the East End, and is now widespread and embraced as a badge of pride.
  • 🎓 Historically, Londoners would hide their Cockney accent to avoid social stigma, but this is no longer the case as it has become 'cool' and is celebrated in media.
  • 🌟 Many famous individuals, such as Adele, Jason Statham, and Michael Caine, are known for their Cockney roots or accents.
  • 📚 The speaker is an English teacher who normally teaches in standard British English, also known as 'Received Pronunciation' (RP), but will explore the Cockney accent in this lesson.
  • 📊 The 'Cockneyometer' is introduced as a tool to demonstrate the spectrum of the Cockney accent, from simple pronunciation changes to more complex linguistic features.
  • 🔊 Cockney pronunciation includes a glottal stop for 't' sounds, dropping the 'h' sound, replacing 'th' with 'f' or 'v', and changing the final 'l' to 'w'.
  • 👥 The script contrasts standard English with Cockney through a dialogue between the speaker and his cousin Bob, illustrating pronunciation differences.
  • 💬 Level 2 of the Cockney accent introduces unique expressions and vocabulary, such as 'Cor blimey!' and 'well minted', which differ from standard English.
  • 📞 Level 3 incorporates Cockney rhyming slang, where phrases are used to replace words based on rhyme, often omitting the rhyming word for a more cryptic effect.
  • 🕰 Examples of rhyming slang include 'Lemon and Lime' for 'time', 'Dog and Bone' for 'phone', and 'Brown Bread' for 'dead', which can be challenging for outsiders to understand.
  • 🤔 The use of Cockney rhyming slang was historically a way to keep conversations private from outsiders, such as police, by making them difficult to comprehend.
Q & A

  • What is the Cockney accent?

    -The Cockney accent is a working-class accent that originated around the city and the East End of London. It is now found all over London and beyond.

  • Why did Londoners in the past try to hide their Cockney accent?

    -In the past, Londoners tried to hide their Cockney accent when trying to rise in social ranks because it was often mocked and shunned in polite society, and could hold them back.

  • What is the current perception of the Cockney accent?

    -The Cockney accent is now considered cool and is worn as a badge of pride. It is prevalent in media, including the BBC and Hollywood.

  • Which famous individuals are known to have a Cockney accent?

    -Famous individuals with a Cockney accent include Adele, Jason Statham, Amy Winehouse, Russell Brand, and Michael Caine.

  • What is the difference between standard British English and the Cockney accent?

    -Standard British English, often referred to as 'received pronunciation' (RP), is the accent typically used in English textbooks and dictionaries, while the Cockney accent features distinct pronunciation changes and vocabulary.

  • What is a 'Cockneyometer' and what is its purpose in the script?

    -The 'Cockneyometer' is a humorous tool used in the script to demonstrate and explain the different levels of the Cockney accent, from basic pronunciation changes to the use of Cockney rhyming slang.

  • What is a 'glottal stop' and how is it used in the Cockney accent?

    -A glottal stop is a sound made from the throat, replacing the 't' sound that usually comes from the front of the mouth. In the Cockney accent, words like 'water' become 'wa'er' and 'butter' becomes 'bu'er'.

  • How does the Cockney accent treat the 'h' sound?

    -In the Cockney accent, the 'h' sound is often dropped entirely, so words like 'he' become 'ed' and 'hat' become 'a'.

  • What is 'Cockney rhyming slang' and why was it used?

    -Cockney rhyming slang is a type of slang unique to London, where words are replaced with phrases that rhyme with them. It was used to keep conversations unintelligible to outsiders, such as the police.

  • Can you give an example of Cockney rhyming slang from the script?

    -An example from the script is 'dog and bone' which rhymes with 'phone', so 'dog' can be used to mean 'phone'.

  • What is the significance of the Cockney accent in modern media and culture?

    -The Cockney accent has gained a significant presence in modern media and culture, being featured in films, television shows, and music, often associated with a sense of identity and pride in London's working-class heritage.

Outlines
00:00
🗨️ Introduction to the Cockney Accent

The script introduces the Cockney accent, a working-class dialect of London, which has transitioned from being a stigma to a badge of pride. The speaker, a Londoner who teaches standard British English, is joined by his cousin Bob to explore the Cockney accent. The accent is characterized by specific pronunciation changes, such as the glottal stop for 't' sounds, dropping the 'h', replacing 'th' with 'f' or 'v', and turning 'l' into 'w'. The script promises to cover the accent at three levels using a 'Cockneyometer', starting with pronunciation differences from Received Pronunciation (RP).

05:02
🎯 Cockney Pronunciation and Vocabulary

This paragraph delves deeper into the Cockney accent by illustrating pronunciation changes and introducing unique Cockney vocabulary and expressions. The speaker contrasts standard English with Cockney phrases, demonstrating how words like 'beautiful', 'thanks', and 'weather' are pronounced differently. It also includes Cockney expressions like 'Cor blimey' and 'Do me a favour', which are distinct from standard English. The speaker warns that understanding becomes more challenging as the lesson progresses to higher levels of the 'Cockneyometer'.

10:05
🎼 Cockney Rhyming Slang and Advanced Expressions

The final paragraph introduces the concept of Cockney rhyming slang, a form of slang where words are replaced by phrases that rhyme with them, often dropping the second word for brevity. Examples given include 'LEMON AND LIME' for 'TIME' and 'DOG AND BONE' for 'PHONE'. The script uses this rhyming slang in sentences, making the language increasingly cryptic and difficult to understand for outsiders. The speaker provides several examples of sentences using this slang, emphasizing the complexity and playful nature of the Cockney dialect.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Cockney accent
The Cockney accent is a working-class dialect and accent originally from the East End of London but now widespread throughout the city and beyond. It was once considered less prestigious and was hidden by those seeking to rise in social status. The video discusses its resurgence and pride associated with it, exemplified by famous individuals like Adele and Michael Caine. The script uses phrases spoken in Cockney to demonstrate pronunciation differences from standard British English.
💡Glottal stop
A glottal stop is a type of consonantal sound that involves a brief stoppage of the airflow in the vocal tract, produced by closing the glottis. In the context of the Cockney accent, it replaces the standard 't' sound, as in 'WATER' becoming 'WA'ER'. This is a key feature distinguishing Cockney pronunciation from Received Pronunciation (RP).
💡Received Pronunciation (RP)
Received Pronunciation, often abbreviated as RP, is a standard form of British English pronunciation that is often used as a model in English language teaching and is typically found in English textbooks and dictionaries. The video contrasts RP with the Cockney accent, highlighting the differences in pronunciation and vocabulary.
💡Cockneyometer
The 'Cockneyometer' is a humorous, fictional device introduced in the script to demonstrate the varying degrees of the Cockney accent. It's a metaphorical tool to gauge the intensity of Cockney speech characteristics, from basic pronunciation changes to the use of Cockney rhyming slang.
💡Dropping the 'H'
In the Cockney accent, the initial 'h' in words is often not pronounced, which is known as 'dropping the 'H''. For example, 'HEA' becomes 'ED' and 'HAT' becomes 'A'. This is a distinctive feature of the Cockney dialect and is part of the accent's unique sound.
💡Unvoiced TH sound
The unvoiced TH sound, as in 'THANKS' or 'THINK', is pronounced differently in Cockney English, typically replaced with an 'F' sound, making it 'FANKS' or 'FINK'. This alteration is part of the phonetic changes characteristic of the Cockney accent.
💡Voiced TH sound
The voiced TH sound, found in words like 'BROTHER' or 'WEATHER', is pronounced with a 'V' sound in the Cockney accent, turning these words into 'BROVVER' and 'WEVVER'. This is another example of the phonetic shifts that occur within the dialect.
💡Cockney rhyming slang
Cockney rhyming slang is a form of slang that originated in the East End of London and is a key part of the Cockney dialect. It involves replacing a word with a phrase that rhymes with it, often dropping the rhyming word for a more cryptic effect. For example, 'phone' can be referred to as 'dog and bone', and then shortened to just 'dog'.
💡Level 1, 2, 3
These levels refer to the different degrees of Cockney speech presented in the video. Level 1 focuses on basic pronunciation changes, Level 2 introduces Cockney expressions and vocabulary, and Level 3 incorporates Cockney rhyming slang, increasing the difficulty of understanding for those unfamiliar with the dialect.
💡Standard British English
Standard British English, as mentioned in the script, is the form of English taught by the speaker as an English teacher. It is the variety of English that is typically used in formal settings and is often contrasted with regional accents and dialects like Cockney.
💡Cultural pride
The concept of cultural pride is central to the video's message, as it discusses the shift in perception of the Cockney accent from being something to hide to a source of pride. The script highlights how the accent is now embraced and celebrated in media and by famous individuals, reflecting a positive self-identity associated with the working-class roots of London.
Highlights

Introduction to the Cockney accent, a working-class accent from London.

Historical context of the Cockney accent and its social stigma in the past.

The modern embracement of the Cockney accent as a badge of pride.

Examples of famous Cockney individuals like Adele and Michael Caine.

Explanation of the difference between Standard British English and Cockney.

Introduction of the 'Cockneyometer' as a tool to demonstrate accent levels.

Level 1 of the Cockney accent focusing on pronunciation differences.

Specific sound changes in Cockney, such as the glottal stop for 't' sounds.

Dropping of the 'h' sound and replacement of 'th' sounds with 'f' or 'v'.

The transformation of the final 'l' sound to a 'w' in Cockney speech.

Dialogue between the host and cousin Bob demonstrating Cockney pronunciation.

Introduction to Level 2 of the Cockney accent with unique expressions and vocabulary.

Examples of Cockney expressions like 'Cor blimey!' and 'Do me a favour!'.

Explanation of Cockney rhyming slang and its function for privacy.

Examples of Cockney rhyming slang phrases like 'Lemon and Lime' for 'Time'.

Demonstration of complex Cockney rhyming slang in conversation with Bob.

The challenge of understanding Cockney rhyming slang in rapid or complex speech.

Final remarks on the Cockney accent's uniqueness and cultural significance.

Transcripts

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Cockney AccentLondon DialectBritish EnglishAccent StudyLinguistic LessonCultural PrideMedia InfluenceCockney SlangPronunciation GuideRhyming Slang