Why Cockney?

Posted by Word Camel on February 10, 2002

The last post got me to thinking... How did Cockney Londoners above all other Londoners come to be so poetic? There's the ryhyming slang or course and terms like clock and peculiar things like calling everyone "Jon", "Alright Jon?"

I'm sure there must be historical reasons. I'm currently reading An Autobiography of London by Peter Ackroyd. My only surmise is that the fact that the East End is a very old part of London - but is there anything more to it than that?

• Why Cockney? The Fallen 02/10/02
  • Why Cockney? Alex 02/20/02
  • Ah, but here's the rub... Word Camel 02/11/02
    • Ah, but here's the rub... psi 02/11/02
    • Ah, but here's the rub... R. Berg 02/11/02
      • The drink Word Camel 02/11/02
        • Camels make bad barstaff The Fallen 02/11/02
          • Hmm, well that would explain a lot... Bar Camel 02/11/02
  • Why Cockney? Bob 02/10/02
    • Why Cockney? Word Camel 02/11/02
      • Why Cockney - with apologies transatlantically The Fallen 02/11/02
        • OOPS The Fallen 02/11/02