The iconic Cockney accent is slowly disappearing from East London due to gentrification and migration, according to a language report. Cockney speakers, traditionally defined as being born within the sound of the Bow Bells on Cheapside, are known for their distinctive speech patterns and rhyming slang.
However, the communities’ displacement from the capital due to rising costs and gentrification has contributed to a decline in the iconic accent, according to language teaching platform, Preply. They explained: “Many people may view this change as a cause for concern, as accents are not merely a way in which we speak; they often form part of a cultural identity, carrying with them history, community, and pride.”
They continued: “Therefore, the loss of an accent may feel like the loss of a cultural and personal identity.”
However, Preply countered that the evolving accents were not a loss, but a “reflection of linguistic transformation”, explaining: “Language naturally changes over time; the Cockney accent of today differs from that of a century ago and will continue to shift.”
The rise of national media and social media platforms were also said to play a part. The study explained that as younger generations are exposed to “neutral” accents online, they may adopt speech patterns that differ from their linguistic heritage.
The study also reported that people increasingly expressed their heritage through identity markers other than linguistics, including food, music, fashion or art.
Stigma and stereotypes surrounding certain accents are also said to have influenced speakers to adopt more neutral tones. Various studies over the years have revealed favourable attitudes to certain accents, and negative views about others.
The decline of isolated rural communities, which historically preserved regional dialects, further accelerated linguistic changes, the platform said.
Just two years ago, researchers from the University of Essex studied the dialects of a group of 18 to 33-year-olds in the South East of England.
The study also found a decline in Cockney accents, as well as Received Pronunciation.
Some 49% of participants spoke in a standard southern British English accent, which the study said was a modern, updated version of received pronunciation.
Around 26% of the participants spoke estuary English, which had similarities with Cockney but was closer to received pronunciation, while the multicultural London English accent made up 25% of the 193 people who took part in the study.