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21 - Multicultural London English

from Part IV - Multilingualism: The Development of Urban Contact Varieties

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 October 2024

By
Susan Fox
Edited by
Susan Fox
Susan Fox
Affiliation:
Universität Bern, Switzerland
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Summary

This chapter presents an overview of Multicultural London English (MLE), the urban contact vernacular that has emerged in London in recent years. It starts with a discussion of how similar varieties have been reported across other European cities and have become known as multiethnolects, meaning that they are not restricted to any particular ethnic group but are available to anyone, including speakers from non-immigrant backgrounds. The chapter then focuses on the specific social and historical circumstances that have led to the emergence of MLE, from its beginnings in the 1980s to the present day. After presenting the linguistic characteristics of MLE, a discussion follows of the ways in which MLE has been perceived in the media and by users and non-users of MLE, and how attitudes towards the variety may influence its trajectory in the future. While there is some suggestion that the variety (or some variation thereof) may not be restricted to London, it is not clear whether MLE will stabilise to an everyday vernacular spoken in inner-city neighbourhoods and beyond or whether it will divide along social and ethnic lines. The chapter concludes with a discussion of new research being undertaken to answer some of these issues.

Keywords

LondonMulticultural London EnglishMLEmultiethnolectCockneylanguage contacturbanlanguage changelanguage attitudesmigration
Type
Chapter
Information
Language in Britain and Ireland , pp. 455 - 470
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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