COCKNEY rhyming slang is on the way out, according to new research from the Museum of London.
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The famous East End slang is still in use for terms like ‘porkies’ (pork pies = lies) and boracic (boracic lint = skint), but most of the street dialect has fallen into disuse, with the vast majority of Londoners unaware of the meaning of phrases like ‘donkey’s’ (donkey’s ears = years) that were in common use just a generation ago.
Other phrases understood by fewer than 20% of 2,000 people questioned in a survey for the Museum of London include: ‘mother hubbard’ (= cupboard) and ‘bacon’ (bacon and eggs = legs).
“For many people, Cockney rhyming slang is intrinsic to the identity of London,” the Telegraph quotes Alex Werner of the Museum of London as saying.
“However this research suggests that the Cockney dialect itself may not be enjoying the same level of popularity.
“The origins of Cockney slang reflects the diverse, immigrant community of London’s East End in the 19th century so perhaps it’s no surprise that other forms of slang are taking over as the cultural influences on the city change.”
