Recently, in a number of posts there have been examples of how we are divided by a common language. I mean, I don't really understand why - you orta speak proppa english - like wot I does!

Anyway, that brought to mind the Cockney Alphabet. It is probably too far back for most of you - it certainly is for me, but young children used to be taught their alphabet by using picture cards which would have something like: A is for Apple. And would have a picture of an apple on it. This lead to some wit in Victorian times wondering how it could be used to teach Cockney. Over the years different versions have appeared, but here is one example with some alternatives.

Just don't blame me!

A for 'Orses ('ay for 'orses)

B for Mutton (Beef or Mutton)

B for Honey (Bee for Honey)

C for Miles (See for Miles)

C for yourself (See for Yourself)

D for Ential (Differential) D for Dumb (Deaf or Dumb)

E for Brick ('eave a Brick)

F for Vescence (Effervescence)

F for bin had (Ever been had?)

G for Get It (Gee, forget it!)

H for Bless You (Aitsshfa! A Sneeze) I for lootin (‘ighfalutin)

I for the girls (Eye for the Girls)

I for The Engine (Ivor the Engine) I for Novello (Ivor Novello)

I for got (I forgot)

J for Oranges (Jaffa Oranges)

K for Restaurant (Cafe or Restaurant)(Often pronounced ‘Kayf’)

L for Leather ('ell for Leather)

M for Sis' (Emphasis)

N for Lope (Envelope) N for a Penny (In for a Penny)

O for The Wings Of A Dove (O! for the Wings of a Dove!)

O for the Garden Wall (Over the Garden Wall)

O for my dead Body (Over my dead Body)

P for Relief (No comment)

Q for A Bus (Queue for a Bus)

R for Mo' ('alf a Mo')

R for bitter (‘alf a bitter)

S for Williams (Esther Williams)

S for you (it’s for you)

T for aching (teef are aching)

T for Two (Tea for Two)

U for Me (You for Me)

U for mism (Euphormism)

V for La France (Vive la France)

W for a Quid (Double you for a Quid)

X for Breakfast (Eggs for Breakfast)

Y for goodness sake (Why? For goodness Sake)

Y for Husband (Wife or Husband)

Z for Breezes (Zephyr Breezes)

Is this the language in downtown London ?? Not in USA./n3rf

n3rf (imported) wrote: Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:10 pm Is this the language in downtown London ?? Not in USA./n3rf

n3rf, No. It's definetely not used in Downtown London. It's a cross between bastardized English and Tex Mex spoken mostly in downtown San Antonio, Texas.

Slammr will understand.

Studlover

Studlover (imported) wrote: Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:22 pm n3rf, No. It's definetely not used in Downtown London. It's a cross between bastardized English and Tex Mex spoken mostly in downtown San Antonio, Texas.

Slammr will understand.

Studlover

So just who are you calling Bastard?

Just don't come to blows over it!

LOL

colin (imported) wrote: Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:32 pm So just who are you calling Bastard?

Just don't come to blows over it!

LOL

Colin, the Southern Americans, obviously.

Studlover

I think we have something s i m i l a r in the Nations capitol or is it the White House...

No we speak Roal American here, don't we ? Never mind. Most interesting. Whatever words I mumble or speak is the way I am and that is me all right. The issue is - CAN YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT I AM SAYING, if I cannot ... Hi /JSm N3RF

One of Leslie Charteris' short stories about "The Saint" has Simon Templar "acquiring" an unconcious Italian, whom ST immediately named "Beppo". The plot of the story required that he spell out the name over the phone, which he did as

"B for bdellium, E for eiderdown, P for psychology, P for pneumonia, O for a muse of fire....."

OK STOP your killing me http://www.eunuch.org/Public/Images/ea1 ... ea1/E9.gif

River