General Facts
What is a Cockney? (Traditional definition)
Someone born within hearing distance of the Bow Bells (church bells of St Mary-le-Bow in East London)
What is "the local" in British working-class culture?
The local pub / their regular neighborhood pub
What does the expression "done up" mean in Cockney culture?
Making a big effort with your appearance / wearing full makeup and styled hair
In Cockney accent, what happens to the 'h' sound at the beginning of words? Give an example.
It is dropped — 'house' becomes 'ouse'
What is rhyming slang?
A secret code where you replace a word with a phrase that rhymes with it
Is Received Pronunciation (posh accent) common among Cockneys?
No — they speak with a working-class accent and dialect
Name TWO working-class jobs mentioned in the presentation.
Shop assistants, hairdressers, nail technicians, market traders (any two)
What fashion mistake is often joked about regarding foundation?
Wearing foundation that is too orange for your skin tone
How do Cockneys pronounce the word "think"?
"Fink"
"Dog and bone" means what?
Phone
Why was rhyming slang originally developed?
As a secret code so police / authorities wouldn't understand criminals or market traders
What is Petticoat Lane?
A famous street market in East London where Cockneys traditionally work
Name TWO types of jewelry mentioned as typical for Cockney girls.
Big gold earrings / hoop earrings
What is a "glottal stop"? Give an example from the presentation.
Swallowing the 't' sound — "water" becomes "wa'er", "bottle" becomes "bo'le"
If someone says "I'm going up the apples," where are they going?
Upstairs ("apples and pears" = stairs)
What is the center of social life for Cockneys?
The local pub
Name TWO places outside central London where Cockneys live today.
Essex, Kent
What kind of jackets do Cockney girls wear in winter?
Big puffa jackets
How would a Cockney pronounce "brother"?
"Bruvver"
"Use your loaf!" means what?
Use your head / Think! ("loaf of bread" = head)
Translate into standard English: "My trouble's been on the dog all day, naggin' me to get up the apples and clean up. I told her to use her loaf!"
"My wife has been on the phone all day, nagging me to go upstairs and clean. I told her to use her head!"
True or False: Cockneys live in the center of London.
False — they live in the suburbs (outskirts)
What hairstyles are popular among working-class girls in the suburbs?
Big, voluminous blow-dries or platinum blonde highlights
Why is Cockney English difficult to understand even for native speakers from other parts of the UK?
Because they don't just have an accent — they have a completely different vocabulary and sound system
In rhyming slang, "trouble and strife" refers to whom?
Wife