One Minute Brief of the Day: Speak Cockney Day March 3rd
Today we've got an interesting brief with our friend Andy Green and we are looking for the OMBLES to help raise awareness for it.
The winning idea will receive a £50 cash prize.
Remember to put your twitter handle in the corner of your ads and tweet your ads to @andygreencre8iv and @oneminutebriefs
Believe it or not but the cockney accent is disappearing according to linguistic experts http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10473059
About ‘Speak Cockney Day’
Cockney is more than an accent, or vernacular. It’s a state of being, with virtues of self-reliance, magnanimity, a commercial nous, independence of spirit, egalitarianism, directness, and occasional subversion of pomposity, pretension and poshness - and all a cause for celebration.
However, predictions are that the Cockney dialect faces a diabolical future, with expert predictions that it will disappear within 30 years.
‘Speak Cockney Day’ on March 3rd - the ‘fird of the ‘fird - is about celebrating what it is to speak, live and be a Cockney, to keep the spirit, sense and slang alive.
Whether you’re born within the sound of Bow Bells, have become a Londoner, or are now part of the Cockney diaspora, whatever your place of birth, colour or creed, ‘Speak Cockney Day’ is a time to celebrate Cockney life and culture - and also do something to help local good causes
By the way - we are not after making any money out of this - we just think it is a good idea and want to see its potential realised.
Why a cause for celebration - and action
An influential July 2010 report by Paul Kerswill, Professor of Sociolinguistics at Lancaster University, Multicultural London English: the emergence, acquisition and diffusion of a new variety, predicted that the Cockney accent will disappear from London's streets within 30 years.
Despite the accent having been around for more than 500 years, the report claims it is being replaced in London by a new hybrid language: "Cockney in the East End is now transforming itself into Multicultural London English, a new, melting-pot mixture of all those people living here who learnt English as a second language".
Conversely, migration of Cockney speakers has led to a ‘Cockney diaspora’ with the dialect, growing out of its traditional East End heartland, to encompass all of London, both sides of the Thames estuary, Essex and wherever Cockneys are in the world.
‘Cockneydom’ is celebrated in music, television and drama - and is a major icon of British culture.
The Cockney vernacular and slang however, has always had a challenge to be accepted. In 1909 the London County Council Conference on the Teaching of English in London Elementary Schools stated, "the Cockney mode of speech, with its unpleasant twang, is a modern corruption without legitimate credentials, and is unworthy of being the speech of any person in the capital city of the Empire."
Since then, Cockney has superficially become more socially accepted as an alternative form of the English Language rather than an inferior one. Yet scratch the surface of English society, and stigma and snobbery can still prevail. And it is this inferiority complex which could spell the killer blow for ‘Cockney’.
There is a need to assert Cockney - its slang, vernacular and expressions - so it can be a valid part of, and flourish within a new linguistic melting pot that is evolving in London, as well asserting a sense of pride among those who consider themselves Cockney, or admire the Cockney slang and culture.
Yet, an inferiority complex holds back asserting Cockney in the new linguistic melting pot: it’s not saying the old has got to be preserved. Rather, the old can evolve, survive, and flourish if promoted in a new dynamic context.
Any new hybrid 21st century London language would be better, stronger rooted, by having some Cockney DNA in it. Hence, the need for a ‘Speak Cockney Day’ on March 3rd.
Why March 3rd?
For ‘Speak Cockney Day’ to survive and flourish it needs a memorable date. Something that can be easily be remembered, passed on, as well a date that somehow also conveys something of the Cockney spirit
March 3rd - or ‘fird of the ‘fird - with its hint of self-deprecation, seems to fit the bill.
How did Speak Cockney Day come about?
Andy Green was born in the old East End Maternity Hospital, Stepney and grew up in Poplar. He has a passion for London culture and has launched new initiatives to promote and support the creative vibrancy of London including ‘Tubespiration’ a social enterprise where he uses the Tube as a creativity classroom, and ‘Tube Kultura’ bringing together creative people independently doing their own creative thing associated that’s somehow associated with the London Underground.
Andy has a claim to fame that he once hit a cricket ball under the River Thames (he was actually playing cricket near the entrance to Blackwall Tunnel), but also still remembers, with some hurt, the times being hauled up in front of his junior school classmates and yelled at by the teacher to pronounce his class registration number of ‘33’ ‘properly’.
The Vision
‘Speak Cockney Day’ on March 3rd - provides a focal point for both celebrating and investing in the future survival of ‘Cockney’.
It’s not about nostalgia, a backward-looking reminisce but rather a positive statement about helping Cockney culture to adapt, grow, and flourish in a new era.
We have ideas for an on-line space where people can submit their new cockney rhyming slang and others vote on its merits - therefore helping to ensure Cockney creates another generation of users
It’s about connecting everyone - celebrities, cockneys, non-cockneys - all who care about our London pride and do your bit keep the Cockney spirit alive & help good causes.
It’s a chance to find out more about your Cockney Culture, its rhyming slang, expressions, history, traditions and culture. Celebrate your favourite Cockney heroes, TV shows, films and bands, to enjoy what you think is your London culture so you can help preserve its qualities for future generations.
At the same time as celebrating all things ‘Cockney’, ‘Speak Cockney Day’ can also help good causes
The day provides a great opportunity for fund-raising or help spread the word of a charity or voluntary group that needs a helping hand. It more than just a right good old knees up - doing something to make our world better in some way.
Today we've got an interesting brief with our friend Andy Green and we are looking for the OMBLES to help raise awareness for it.
The winning idea will receive a £50 cash prize.
Remember to put your twitter handle in the corner of your ads and tweet your ads to @andygreencre8iv and @oneminutebriefs
Believe it or not but the cockney accent is disappearing according to linguistic experts http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10473059
About ‘Speak Cockney Day’
Cockney is more than an accent, or vernacular. It’s a state of being, with virtues of self-reliance, magnanimity, a commercial nous, independence of spirit, egalitarianism, directness, and occasional subversion of pomposity, pretension and poshness - and all a cause for celebration.
However, predictions are that the Cockney dialect faces a diabolical future, with expert predictions that it will disappear within 30 years.
‘Speak Cockney Day’ on March 3rd - the ‘fird of the ‘fird - is about celebrating what it is to speak, live and be a Cockney, to keep the spirit, sense and slang alive.
Whether you’re born within the sound of Bow Bells, have become a Londoner, or are now part of the Cockney diaspora, whatever your place of birth, colour or creed, ‘Speak Cockney Day’ is a time to celebrate Cockney life and culture - and also do something to help local good causes
By the way - we are not after making any money out of this - we just think it is a good idea and want to see its potential realised.
Why a cause for celebration - and action
An influential July 2010 report by Paul Kerswill, Professor of Sociolinguistics at Lancaster University, Multicultural London English: the emergence, acquisition and diffusion of a new variety, predicted that the Cockney accent will disappear from London's streets within 30 years.
Despite the accent having been around for more than 500 years, the report claims it is being replaced in London by a new hybrid language: "Cockney in the East End is now transforming itself into Multicultural London English, a new, melting-pot mixture of all those people living here who learnt English as a second language".
Conversely, migration of Cockney speakers has led to a ‘Cockney diaspora’ with the dialect, growing out of its traditional East End heartland, to encompass all of London, both sides of the Thames estuary, Essex and wherever Cockneys are in the world.
‘Cockneydom’ is celebrated in music, television and drama - and is a major icon of British culture.
The Cockney vernacular and slang however, has always had a challenge to be accepted. In 1909 the London County Council Conference on the Teaching of English in London Elementary Schools stated, "the Cockney mode of speech, with its unpleasant twang, is a modern corruption without legitimate credentials, and is unworthy of being the speech of any person in the capital city of the Empire."
Since then, Cockney has superficially become more socially accepted as an alternative form of the English Language rather than an inferior one. Yet scratch the surface of English society, and stigma and snobbery can still prevail. And it is this inferiority complex which could spell the killer blow for ‘Cockney’.
There is a need to assert Cockney - its slang, vernacular and expressions - so it can be a valid part of, and flourish within a new linguistic melting pot that is evolving in London, as well asserting a sense of pride among those who consider themselves Cockney, or admire the Cockney slang and culture.
Yet, an inferiority complex holds back asserting Cockney in the new linguistic melting pot: it’s not saying the old has got to be preserved. Rather, the old can evolve, survive, and flourish if promoted in a new dynamic context.
Any new hybrid 21st century London language would be better, stronger rooted, by having some Cockney DNA in it. Hence, the need for a ‘Speak Cockney Day’ on March 3rd.
Why March 3rd?
For ‘Speak Cockney Day’ to survive and flourish it needs a memorable date. Something that can be easily be remembered, passed on, as well a date that somehow also conveys something of the Cockney spirit
March 3rd - or ‘fird of the ‘fird - with its hint of self-deprecation, seems to fit the bill.
How did Speak Cockney Day come about?
Andy Green was born in the old East End Maternity Hospital, Stepney and grew up in Poplar. He has a passion for London culture and has launched new initiatives to promote and support the creative vibrancy of London including ‘Tubespiration’ a social enterprise where he uses the Tube as a creativity classroom, and ‘Tube Kultura’ bringing together creative people independently doing their own creative thing associated that’s somehow associated with the London Underground.
Andy has a claim to fame that he once hit a cricket ball under the River Thames (he was actually playing cricket near the entrance to Blackwall Tunnel), but also still remembers, with some hurt, the times being hauled up in front of his junior school classmates and yelled at by the teacher to pronounce his class registration number of ‘33’ ‘properly’.
The Vision
‘Speak Cockney Day’ on March 3rd - provides a focal point for both celebrating and investing in the future survival of ‘Cockney’.
It’s not about nostalgia, a backward-looking reminisce but rather a positive statement about helping Cockney culture to adapt, grow, and flourish in a new era.
We have ideas for an on-line space where people can submit their new cockney rhyming slang and others vote on its merits - therefore helping to ensure Cockney creates another generation of users
It’s about connecting everyone - celebrities, cockneys, non-cockneys - all who care about our London pride and do your bit keep the Cockney spirit alive & help good causes.
It’s a chance to find out more about your Cockney Culture, its rhyming slang, expressions, history, traditions and culture. Celebrate your favourite Cockney heroes, TV shows, films and bands, to enjoy what you think is your London culture so you can help preserve its qualities for future generations.
At the same time as celebrating all things ‘Cockney’, ‘Speak Cockney Day’ can also help good causes
The day provides a great opportunity for fund-raising or help spread the word of a charity or voluntary group that needs a helping hand. It more than just a right good old knees up - doing something to make our world better in some way.