Where is it used? As the name suggests, British slang is
commonly found all over England. Although, it is not used in
Scotland, Ireland or Wales, who all have their own slang. However,
although most British people use the same slang, most major cities
contain different accents, so the pronunciation of certain words
changes.
Slide 3
Who uses it and why? The most common reason for using this
language is to shorten certain sentences and to get a message
across quickly, usually by using abbreviations, and for talking
quickly in public. British slang is used in face-to-face
situations, texting and email. The most common situation on the net
for this slang to occur is on MSN and social networking sites.
However, newer British slang is only commonly heard from teenagers,
it is not used in formal letters or on resumes for example, because
it could be seen as inappropriate, unacceptable and rude. The most
common medium used for British slang is voice.
Slide 4
Common Words Used
Slide 5
Common Expressions
Slide 6
Language in Context Stick a pony in me pocket Opening credits
from Only Fools and Horses, means give me 25 pounds, it was a
common phrase at that time (80s) Feel like Bangers and Mash? Would
only be found in food magazines/ adverts on TV, means Feel like
Sausages and Mash Potatoes? Im feeling a bit dicky, twit Would be
found in comics throughout England, means Im feeling a bit unwell,
idiot Gimme some dosh you geezer Could possibly be found in a comic
representing a robbery, means Give me some money, old man Come and
take a gander at the Eiffel Tower! Advert for a trip to Paris to
see the Eiffel Tower, means Come and take a look at the Eiffel
Tower
Slide 7
Cockney Rhyming Slang Cockney Rhyming Slang originated in the
East End of London. Some slang expressions have left London and are
in popular use throughout the rest of Britain. Globally, British
and Cockney slang is not very popular, because the slang is
overruled by another countries slang. Rhyming Slang phrases are
derived from taking an expression which rhymes with a word and then
using that expression instead of the word. Modern Cockney slang
today tends to only rhyme words with the names of celebrities or
famous people, simply because it is easier for people to relate
to.
Slide 8
Strange Cockney Rhyming Examples
Slide 9
Cockney Rhyming Sentence Examples See you later, alligator See
you later Pass the army, will you? Pass the gravy, will you? The
troubles been shopping again The wifes been shopping again Shes a
bit daffy Shes a bit silly Use your crust, lad Use your head, lad
Stick it up your Khyber Stick it up your arse What beautiful minces
What beautiful eyes I can smell a raspberry I can smell a fart
Wheres my weasel? Wheres my coat? Could you lend me an oxford?
Could lend me a dollar?
Slide 10
Teenage Slang In 2010, the BBC did a test on a group of
teenagers to study the differences of how teenagers speak in
different parts of the UK. They gave a simple phrase to all the
teenagers and told them to convert it into their own slang. The
phrase was: John's girlfriend is really pretty. But she got mad
with him the other day because he wanted to hang out with his
friends rather than take her to the cinema. She got really angry
and stormed off. It was very funny. Say what? A parents' guide to
UK teenage slang, BBC News, viewed 25 th May 2011 Continued on next
slide
Slide 11
Teenage Slang Results, Wales A person from Swansea, Wales said
this: John's missus is flat out bangin'. But she was tampin' the
other day 'cause he bombed her out for the boys instead of going to
the cinema. She... started mouthing. It was hilarious. Girlfriend
Attractive Got mad Left her Shouting, abusing
Slide 12
Teenage Slang Results, Lanarkshire A person from Bellshill,
Lanarkshire said this: John's burd is well stunnin'. She wis pure
mental wae 'um the other day cos he wantit tae hing aboot wi 'is
pals 'n no take hur tae the Showcase. She took a hissy 'n bolted.
It wis well funny. Converted: Johns girl is really stunning. She
went mental at him the other day because he wanted to hang around
with his pals and not take her to the cinema. She got really angry
and ran away. It was really funny. Girl Because Pretty, Attractive
At him Was Wanted to Got angry Ran away Her to Was very Hang about
with hisAnd not
Slide 13
Teenage Slang Results, Ireland A person from Londonderry,
Northern Ireland said this: "John's girlfriend is pure stunnin'.
But she was ragin' cos he dogged her out of it to got to the
pictures with his muckers. She pure went into one and booted. It
was some craic." Converted: Johns girlfriend is very stunning, but
she was angry because he left her to go to the pictures with his
friends. She went extremely mad and walked away. It was good fun.
Very stunningAngry Walked/Ran away Good fun Friends Left her
Slide 14
Groups British Slang changes in different parts of England,
each County has its own unique accent and expression for slang. The
most common group to use British slang are teenagers. Usually,
teenagers invent most of the newer slang, such as Chav (an
aggressive, unemployed low-life) and Sick (very good). Whereas
older generations stick to the older slang, such as Bobs Your Uncle
and Taking the Mick (Mickey). Because of this, different generation
occasionally struggle to communicate with each other. Moreover,
this can exclude certain groups because they do not know the slang
used by other groups/generations.
Slide 15
Communication The downside to British slang is it is very hard
to understand for anyone away from that particular area where the
slang is spoken. For example, Londoners say certain phrases such as
Im going out for ruby Murray (which means going out for a curry),
whereas other areas would say Im going out for a chinky (which
means Chinese) Accents and pronunciation affect communication
dramatically, certain towns and areas drop and add certain letters,
like innit which means isnt it, but they dropped the s and t and
added a n.
Slide 16
British Slang in different cultures British slang is only used,
as the name suggests, in Britain. Typically, when a individual or
family leave England, they adapt to the slang of the local place
but the accent may stay the same. Because of this, British slang
typically only stays in England.
Slide 17
Has it changed overtime? British slang has derived from
Elizabethan times in (1558), and around Shakespeare's lifetime.
However, over time words have gradually been made simpler and
easier to say (because humans got lazy). Even simple words like
twas, which nows means it was have changed slowly over time. A word
that has been shortened slightly is Give me leave to, which now
means allow me to.
Slide 18
Connection between context and content. With British Slang,
different words are used depending on the place they are said or
placed. For example, a word such as geezer wouldnt be said by a
grandchild to their grandfather. It would be seen as rude or
offensive, whereas it may be used in a comic because it could be
seen as a joke, its in a different context. Throughout this
PowerPoint, I have learnt how a variety of different words can be
misinterpreted if they are taking out of context.
Slide 19
My Opinion Over the course of researching British slang, I have
come to learn more words and phrases than I knew before, and,
common words like chav, bangers and dosh I had heard plenty of
times before. It has also showed me how different British slang has
become overtime, and how as the slang is passed through different
generations, the words are swapped, shortened and muddled up to
produce something new for everyone to start saying. Cockney Rhyming
slang surprised me the most because of how unfamiliar it was to me
and how peculiar it was.
Slide 20
Bibliography List British Slang Words, Essortment, viewed 19 th
May, 2011 Barrow, M, British Sayings/Idioms, UK, viewed 22 nd May,
2011 Google Definition, Chav, viewed 25 th May, 2011 Say what? A
parents' guide to UK teenage slang, BBC News, viewed 25 th May 2011
What is cockney rhyming slang? Cockney Rhyming Slang, viewed 25 th
May, 2011 Hints and Things, Examples of sentence using cockney
rhyming slang, viewed 2 nd June, 2011 Just So Me Lyrics, Only Falls
and Horses Theme Tune Lyrics, viewed June 2 nd, 2011
http://www.justsomelyrics.com/761972/Only-Fools-and-Horses-Theme-Tune-Lyrics