This course will take place online.
This course traces the antecedents of the range of London voices. We will map the history of London voices from late Old English, through the beginnings of standardisation in late-medieval Westminster, Tudor churchwardens, Jacobean and 18th-century stage characters, Victorian street-traders, and Eliza Doolittle, to the emergence of courtly speech and RP, dropped ‘h’s, and glottal stops.
We will be looking at different types of slang, the difference between accents south and north of the river, and the effects of migration on how Londoners speak now.
Who is this course for?
Anyone interested in London history and the history of the English language. No previous knowledge of the subject is necessary.
What can I expect?
Students are encouraged to bring along their own experiences of language for comparison, and to have a go at using historical accents. On-site courses include physical access to original materials such as historic dictionaries and documents; online courses use a large range of images of texts for illustration, as well as quotations and explanations. Handouts explaining the main points are issued after sessions.
Joining via Zoom
This course or event will be held via Zoom. You need a computer/laptop or mobile phone to access the Zoom website, and a reliable internet connection. For further information on how to join a Zoom meeting, you can watch the joining video here.
You will need a computer or other device to connect with Zoom and a notebook/paper and pen/pencil, or digital equivalent.
Bursary places
We provide a number of funded bursaries to people who find it hard to pay the full or concessionary rates. Find out more information on how to apply.
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You will learn
- About the roots of the identifiable London voice in late Old English
- About the specifics of the developing London voice
- About attempts to denigrate the history of the London voice
- The difference between accents south and north of the river
- How 1,000 years of migration affected how Londoners speak.
Meet the Tutor
Julian Walker
Julian Walker worked as an educator at the British Library for 16 years. He teaches book and printing history, and the history of English. Julian is the authority on the English language during the First World War, a subject of ongoing research in the Languages and the First World War project, which he directs. An associate lecturer at the University of the Arts London, he has written several books on the history of English, in fields such as cooking, sport, and conflict.
