This course will take place online, for a reduced rate of Full £32 / Conc. £24
The idea of the London voice is clouded by clichés of music-hall cockneys, wartime spivs, and rhyming slang. This course traces the history of the range of London voices, from late Old English, through to Jacobean and eighteenth century stage characters, and Eliza Doolittle and the voices of condemnation. We'll also look at attempts at correcting perceived horrors of pronunciation, the emergence of courtly speech and RP, dropped "h"s, and glottal stops. Join this course to examine different types of slang, the difference between accents south and north of the river, Estuary English, and how migration has shaped how Londoners speak today.
Who is this course for?
Anyone interested in London history and the history of the English language. No previous knowledge of either subject is necessary.
Will I need any equipment or materials?
This course 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.
Image: London Collection
You will learn
By the end of this course, you will have learnt:
- About the roots of the London voice in late Old English
- About different types of London slang
- The difference between accents south and north of the river
- About the effects of migration on how Londoners speak now.
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.
A practising printmaker, he is also 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.
A former honorary research associate at UCL, he has written several books on the history of English in fields such as cooking, sport and conflict.
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