Bangney - the new voice of the East End

Adam   Mon Aug 22, 2005 6:42 pm GMT
The Mirror -

22 August 2005

BANGNEY NEW VOICE OF THE EAST END

Kids swapping Cockney for Bangladeshi dialect

By Stephen White

STRIKE a light, guv - but it seems there ain't no one talking proper Cockney dahn the East End no more.

The traditional East London accent is being replaced by a Bangladeshi- influenced dialect, experts claim today.

Now white youngsters are adopting slang words from Asian friends, such as nang, meaning good, creps for trainers and skets (slippers).

Researcher Dr Sue Fox said most youngsters in Tower Hamlets, the heart of the East End, are now of Bangladeshi origin.

The London University academic added: "It's had tremendous impact on the dialect in the area.

"Young people are using a variety of English not traditionally associated with Cockney - it's a variety that is Bangladeshi-accented.

"In turn, some adolescents of white British origin are using these features in their speech as well."

Heaven knows what TV EastEnders Alfie and Kat Moon would make of that down at the Queen Vic.

Ironically, the new Bangney accent is much closer in pronunciation to the Queen's English - and less likely to be used by white girls.

But traditional Cockney, however, is not dying out. It has followed older East Enders who moved to towns in nearby Essex. Dr Laura Wright of Cambridge University explained: "East End communities were disrupted after the Second World War, partly due to bomb damage and slum clearance.

"Many were transferred to new towns such as Basildon and Harlow. Of course, when they resettled they took their speech with them.

"They and their descendants continue to speak in East London dialect with East London accents .

"But this has changed over the intervening half century, so speakers today would not sound identical to their East End forefathers."

Traditional speech patterns have also changed in other multicultural cities such as Liverpool and Cardiff.

Language expert Prof David Crystal explained: "As society changes, so accents change.

"In Liverpool, as well as traditional Scouse you will hear Caribbean-Scouse, African-Scouse and Indian-Scouse accents.

"In Cardiff I've heard Cardiff-Arabic and Cardiff-Hindi.

"This pattern's repeating itself in many urban communities, especially where people are keen to develop a strong sense of local identity."

And he ain't telling porkies...


mirror.co.uk
Mxsmanic   Mon Aug 22, 2005 7:20 pm GMT
Wait ten years and see what survives.