THE BEAUTY OF ENGLAND - COCKNEY BRITAIN

COCKNEY RHYMING SLANG'

DESCRIPTION :

In the English language 'Rhyming Slang' is prevalent in dialectal British English, especially in and around the East End of London, and is, as a consequence, widely known as 'Cockney Rhyming Slang'.  In the construction of phrases it involves replacing a commonly known and used word with a rhyming phrase.  In recent years it has moved up a gear in that instead of incorporating a full rhyming phrase (of two or three words) nowadays it is very common that only the first word of a phrase is spoken, rendering the origin and meaning of the phrase totally obscure.  This pattern of omission is known as hemiteleia and is demonstrated, as follows :

"Plates of meat" meaning "feet" becomes, simply, "plates"

"Battle cruiser" meaning "boozer" (Pub) becomes "battle"

A phrase using these two words can, therefore, be constructed and spoken, as follows :

"Me (my) plates hurt so bad I could hardly make it home from the battle last night!"

Or a more detailed conversation could be, as follows :

"'Allo me old china - wot say we pop round the battle. I'll stand you a pig and you can rabbit on about your teapots. We can 'ave some Tommy and scarpa before the dickory strikes one"... meaning
"Hello my old mate (china plate) - what do you say we pop around to the boozer (pub = battle cruiser). I'll buy you a beer (pig's ear) and you can talk (rabbit and pork) about your kids (teapot lids). We can have some supper (Tommy Tucker) and go (scapa flow) before the clock (hickory dickory dock) strikes one".

It's not really a language in itself as the words spoken are English, but it's not a dialect either, since the speakers are perfectly capable of not using it!

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THE HISTORY SURROUNDING 'COCKNEY RHYMING SLANG' :

'Cockney Rhyming Slang' can be traced back to the early part of the 19th century where it originated in the East End of London amongst the predominantly Cockney population living there.  Several sources have suggested that it emerged during the 1840s in the Seven Dials area of Westminster, where the people are well known for their characteristic accent and speech patterns.  Another source traces it back to 1824 shortly after Sir Robert Peel formed the first Police Force, stationed at Bow Street in London. 

They became known as the 'Bow Street Runners', 'Peelers' and 'Bobbies' (the latter still being in use today : Robert = Bob = 'Bobbies') and organised crime had never been faced with such a formidable foe before.

A Dictionary of Modern Slang was published as early as 1859, which included a "Glossary of the Rhyming Slang".

There is some speculation as to whether rhyming slang came about as a linguistic accident, just as a game or a cryptolect which developed intentionally to confuse outsiders.  It is thought by some to have been used to maintain a sense of community spirit among locals, and by others that it was widely used at markets by the vendors so that they could communicate without being understood by their customers and certain reference works even mention travelling salesmen known as 'Chaunters' (who sold sheet music) and 'Patterers' (who sold cheap goods) who travelled throughout the country selling their wears at fairs and markets. Petty thieves are also thought to have invented many rhymes to enable them to talk amongst themselves without anyone knowing what they were talking about as they robbed people in the market places. 

But by far the most commonly accepted reason for its 'invention' is that it came about as a way that the city of London's criminal world, in general, could cause as much confusion as they possibly could to unsuspecting policemen.  'Cockney Rhyming Slang' is, indeed, a coded language that enabled Cockneys in the 19th century to speak in front of the police without being understood properly, as the true meaning of discussions were hidden from both the Police and Police Informers, and inmates in prisons could talk without the guards listening in.

At any point in history and in any location, 'Rhyming Slang' has readily changed and adapted by incorporating new words and phrases relevant in current affairs at the time.  Many phrases are based on London locations and may be totally meaningless to people who are not familiar with London.  For example : "Hampstead Heath", meaning "teeth" and "Barnet Fair" meaning "hair".  You can easily see that 'Cockney Rhyming Slang' does have the effect of obscuring the meaning of what is being said from outsiders as it excludes those not 'in the know', as the substitution of one word for another word often relies on reference to a key phrase, which for the slang to be understood it must be known jointly by those communicating.

It was during the mid-20th century that many expressions started to be based on names of famous personalities (actors, TV presenters, politicians and the like) and this has continued ever since.  One example is that of the use of the name Tony Blair (a former Prime Minister in England) - following the pattern of omission "Me Tony Blairs" meaning "flares" (trousers that have a wide leg at the bottom) became "Me (my) Tonys" and was a mutation based on an earlier use of the name "Lionel Blairs" (a famous British dancer).  Many phrases as substitutions for the real language have become so well known and widespread in their contracted form in England that they have been totally accepted into common usage. 

A typical example of this is the phrase "Let's have a butcher's" (meaning to "have a look") originated from the phrase "butcher's hook" (an S-shaped hook used in the butchering trade to hang meat up), and dates back to the late 19th century, but has existed independently in common use since the 1930s, simply as "butchers" - "Take a butchers (look) at this". 

"Use your loaf" is another common phrase widely used even today.  It derives from "loaf of bread", meaning "use your head" (think about it carefully/be sensible) and, again, can be dated back to the late 19th century, but became independently used during the 1930s.  Many who use these phrases may not be aware of their origin, but they're very happy to use them all the same!

'Cockney Rhyming Slang' became a lot more popular and began to be spread farther afield because of its use in many London-based TV programs aired during the 1970s and 1980s.  Programs such as Mind Your Language, The Sweeney, Only Fools and Horses, Citizen Smith, Steptoe and Son, to name but a few.  Not to mention many books, as well as music that included 'Cockney'.

THE HISTORY SURROUNDING THE WORD 'COCKNEY' :

The term 'Cockney' is widely re-known the world over today, but your average 'Joe Public' may not be aware that its earliest recorded use occurred as far back as 1342 (would you Adam and Eve (believe) it!).  Back then it was spelt differently and meant different things. "Cokeney" (1342) meant a small, odd shaped egg (a Cock's egg) and "Cokenay" (1386) referred to a child who had been tenderly brought up (raised), but a bit on the effeminate side (a bit delicate).  By 1521 country folk were using the term as a derogatory phrase for effeminate town folk.

However, in 1600 the word was used to describe those born within hearing distance of the bells of the church of St Mary Le Bow in Cheapside, London EC2 (in the city of London), and were described as " Bowe-bell Cockneys" or, less charmingly , the meaning was expanded as follows :"Londoners, and all within the sound of Bow Bells are, in reproach, called Cockneys".

A TRUE 'COCKNEY' :

Today a true 'Cockney', is still known as a person who was born within earshot of the sound of 'Bow bells' (the bells of the church of St Mary Le Bow, Cheapside, London EC2) and very proud of it they are too! 

The term 'Cockney' refers, in particular, to an East London accent, although to most people who live outside London, it simply means a 'Londoner'.

But, there's more to it than just that, because nowadays there is a bit of a problem ... well, actually several problems!  During the Second World War, for instance, the bells rang only as a warning of air raids, and in 1941 the bell tower of St Mary Le Bow was bombed and it wasn't re-built until 1961.  Add to this the fact that nowadays there is very little in the way of residential property around the church of St Mary Le Bow so it's very unlikely that babies are within earshot of it!

However, we need to think back to the traditional definition that in 1600 the word applied not only to those born within hearing distance of Bow Bells, but also "in the city of London".  The modern definition, therefore, points to the fact that anybody born in the East End of London can consider him or herself as a Cockney.

A TRADITIONAL 'COCKNEY' COSTUME :

Traditionally, Cockneys are associated with the terms "Pearly King" or "Pearly Queen".  This is because some very creative Londoners in the past (and some still in the present) were known to sew literally thousands of pearl buttons onto their clothing in extremely elaborate patterns.  The "Pearly King" usually wears a black suit, comprising of a pair of trousers and a jacket, accompanied by a hat, and his "Pearly Queen" wears a dress and jacket together with a hat.  

There are, apparently, two different kinds of "Pearly King" and "Pearly Queen" suits.  One is known as a 'Smother suit' - so called because it is literally so smothered in pearl buttons that little of the actual fabric is visible.  The other is known as a 'Skeleton suit' where quite a lot of fabric is visible, despite the creative pearl patterns.

If that doesn't brighten up your day I don't know what else would!  The eye for detail in the costumes is stunning and has been painstakingly worked on, possibly for months by those passionate to keep the Cockney tradition very much alive and kicking.

The first "Pearly King" -

The tradition is thought to have begun with a man called Henry Croft.  He had been raised in an orphanage in London and was 'sent out into the world' at the young and vulnerable age of 13, whereupon he became a humble road sweeper.  In his new job and surroundings he mixed and mingled with local towns people, especially market traders (known as Costermongers).  The Costermongers had a custom of sewing small pearl buttons along the seams of their clothes and as Henry noticed their sense of community spirit and the way they all supported each other and helped each other out in times of crisis he came to admire them.

Whilst sweeping the streets he often found pearl buttons and instead of throwing them away as rubbish he kept them.  He eventually learned how to sew and skilfully sewed all his prize pearl buttons onto his cap.  Since he kept finding many more buttons he did the same to his suit.  This humble road sweeper, the first "Pearly King", is remembered for his documented charity work.  He passed away at 68 years of age in 1930, having successfully raised around £5,000 (about £200,000 today) for orphanages, hospitals and workhouses in London. 

Others joined him in becoming "Pearly Kings" and "Pearly Queens" and the tradition carries on from generation to generation, through many of the original families who followed his lead.  There were originally 28 "Pearly" families (one for each of the London boroughs and one for the city of London and the city of Westminster).  Some of these families are still continuing the noble tradition of raising money for charity.

Keeping true to Henry Croft who did all the sewing of the pearl buttons himself it is even now still a custom for the "Pearly Kings" to design and sew the pearl button patterns themselves.  Even some patterns have been kept and passed down through the generations of a family.  The designs have meanings : doves represent peace, hearts represent charity, anchors mean hope and so forth.