3 - Supra local London EE

Question 1

Supra-local dialects and accents

Answer 1

Britain : → Process of dialect levelling = small dialectal areas such as those shown on the SED map are disappearing

However, new supra-local dialects are emerging (centred around major urban centres) : those dialects are becoming less and less like one another.

Question 2

SED

Answer 2

(Survey of English Dialects)

Question 3

Estuary English (EE)

Answer 3

1980’s: a claim that a new variety of English has arisen, Estuary English

1990’s: the name enters popular usage. The existence of EE is
taken as a fact.

2000’s: scholarly accounts based on substantial research
appear. They show that EE as previously defined does not exist.

=> In fact, EE has existed for quite some time
=> One of those supra-local varieties based on London

Question 4

Linguist List 5.527, 08 May 1994 quote on EE

Answer 4

For a start, it’s is not a
new variety, it’s just a standardised form of speech with Southeastern phonology. People have spoken like that for years and years. EE retains some regional low-level phonetic features. What MAY be new is the fact that the non-standard urban dialects
are being levelled in the whole SE region, so that it is increasingly hard to tell even where nonstandard speakers come from. [… ] although attitudes to EE are still not
positive, it is becoming more and more used in high-status occupations, including broadcasting. It lacks the snobbery associated with some forms of RP.

Question 5

Where does EE come from?

Answer 5

RP → EE → Cockney

Question 6

Cockney?

Answer 6

= the broadest
traditional London
working-class speech