Slide 17-18: Multicultural London English (MLE)
Heading: The Rise of MLE
Content:
MLE influenced by Jamaican hip-hop and local London English
Popularized by black-British grime artists like Dizzee Rascal and Akala
Reflects the cultural diversity of London
Origin from second-language English spoken by immigrant communities
Script:
" Multicultural London English, or MLE, is a relatively new form of English that
has emerged in London's urban areas. It reflects the blending of cultures in the city,
shaped by the diverse ethnic communities that live there. MLE draws significant
influence from Jamaican Creole, West African, and South Asian languages, as well
as British hip-hop culture, especially the grime music scene.
Grime artists like Dizzee Rascal and Akala are prominent figures who have helped
bring MLE into the mainstream. Their use of MLE connects with youth culture,
particularly in multiethnic areas of London, where the influence of Caribbean
speech patterns has merged with traditional London English. Research suggests
that MLE’s growth is not merely an imitation of Jamaican stars like Beenie Man or
Vybz Kartel, but rather a reflection of how young people in culturally diverse
environments blend elements from various linguistic backgrounds."
*Dylan Kwabena Mills (born 18 September 1984), known professionally
as Dizzee Rascal, is a British rapper. He is often credited as a pioneer of Britsh hip
hop and grime music and was ranked by Complex as one of the greatest British
rappers of all time.
*Kingslee James McLean Daley (born 1 December 1983), known professionally
as Akala, is a British rapper, journalist, author, activist and poet from Kentish
Town, London.
Slide 19: Received Pronunciation (RP)
Heading: RP – A Marker of Elite Status (20)
Content:
RP developed in the 19th century during the rise of formal education
Tied to the upper class, aristocracy, and public schools
Adopted by institutions like the BBC and the British Empire
Sometimes called 'the Queen’s English' or 'BBC English'
Script:
"On the other side of the linguistic spectrum is Received Pronunciation, or RP.
Unlike MLE, which emerged from cultural diversity, RP is historically tied to
Britain's upper class. It first became established in the 19th century as Britain
expanded its empire and as education became more formalized. As public schools
—like Eton and Harrow—educated the sons of the aristocracy, RP emerged as the
standard accent spoken by the upper classes.
RP was designed to be a ‘neutral’ accent, stripped of any regional markers, and
was seen as a reflection of the educated elite. It was also the accent used by the
ruling class, including members of the aristocracy and government officials. The
BBC adopted RP as its standard pronunciation for broadcasts, which further
cemented its association with authority, intelligence, and power."
Slide 21: RP as a Social Marker
Heading: The Social Power of RP (21)
Content:
RP used to distinguish the educated elite from lower social classes
Regional accents were often stigmatized as markers of provincialism
RP’s role in social mobility and aspiration during the Victorian era
Script:
"In Victorian Britain, RP was more than just an accent—it was a clear marker of
social status. Speaking RP signaled that you belonged to the educated, upper-class
elite. Conversely, regional accents were often seen as inferior, marking their
speakers as uneducated or provincial. This linguistic divide reinforced the social
hierarchies of the time, where someone’s accent could determine how they were
perceived by others.
For example, characters in Charles Dickens’ novels often speak in Cockney or
other regional accents to show their lower-class status. In contrast, characters from
higher social classes speak in RP. During this time, RP also played a key role in
social mobility. Many people, especially those from working-class backgrounds,
would try to 'lose' their regional accents in order to climb the social ladder. Being
able to speak RP was seen as essential for getting ahead in professional and elite
circles."
*For a brief period the BBC radio news was read by the comedy actor Wilfred
Pickles, whose strong Yorkshire accent could not be easily understood by German
Intelligence.
Slide 22: Shifts in Attitudes Toward RP
Heading: Decline of RP’s Influence (23-24)
Content:
Post-WWII education reforms led to greater social mobility
Regional accents gained acceptance
RP now seen as outdated by some younger generations
Script:
"Over time, however, attitudes toward RP began to shift. After World War II,
significant education reforms gave more people access to higher education, leading
to greater social mobility. As a result, regional accents began to gain more
acceptance, and the rigid boundaries between RP speakers and those with regional
accents began to blur.
In the latter half of the 20th century, RP started to lose some of its prestige. For
many younger people, RP is now seen as outdated or even elitist. Interestingly,
even figures like Queen Elizabeth II have been noted to have subtly changed their
pronunciation over the years to reflect these shifting attitudes. RP, once the
dominant accent in British society, is no longer viewed as the 'best' form of
English."
Slide 25: Speech and the Arts
Heading: A New Openness in the Arts (26-27-28)
Content:
Regional speech became more prevalent in theatre, television, and film
Harold Pinter, Joe Orton, and other playwrights utilized authentic regional
dialects
Popular TV shows like Coronation Street and Z Cars brought regional
accents into British homes
Films like Saturday Night and Sunday Morning portrayed realistic working-
class life
Leading actors rediscovered their regional accents for authenticity
Script:
"Television also began to reflect the true diversity of British speech, with shows
like Coronation Street—set in Manchester—and Z Cars—set in Liverpool—
bringing regional accents into the living rooms of British households. Similarly,
films such as Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and The Loneliness of the Long
Distance Runner portrayed gritty, working-class life in northern England. To make
their performances more authentic, actors like Albert Finney and Tom Courtney
even had to rediscover the northern accents they had been trained to lose in drama
school."
*Coronation Street (colloquially referred to as Corrie) is a British television soap
opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960.
The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced street in the fictional town
of Weatherfield in Greater Manchester.
* Z-Cars was a British television police procedural series centred on the work of
mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby,
near Liverpool. Produced by the BBC, it debuted in January 1962 and ran until
September 1978.
*Saturday Night and Sunday Morning is a 1960 British kitchen sink drama film
directed by Karel Reisz and produced by Tony Richardson. It is an adaptation of
the 1958 novel by Alan Silitoe, with Sillitoe himself writing the screenplay. The
plot concerns a young teddy boy machinist, Arthur, who spends his weekends
drinking and partying, all the while having an affair with a married woman.
*The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner is a 1962 British coming-of-age-
film directed by Tony Richardson, one of the new young directors emerging from
the English Stage Company at the Royal Court.
Slide 29-30: Popular Culture's Impact on Speech
Content:
Popular culture increased the acceptance of regional accents
The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who made regional speech
fashionable
BBC Radio 1 and TV shows like Ready Steady Go! amplified accented
speech
Actors like Sean Connery, Michael Caine, and Richard Burton brought non-
RP accents to the forefront of film
Script:
“In the 1960s, popular culture helped make regional accents more accepted. Bands
like The Beatles from Liverpool and The Rolling Stones from London brought
their local accents into the spotlight, making them trendy, especially with young
people. Radio and TV shows like BBC Radio 1 and Ready Steady Go! spread these
accents even further.
In films, actors like Sean Connery (Scottish), Richard Burton (Welsh), and
Michael Caine (from London) became famous while using their own regional
accents. Their success made these accents not just accepted but fashionable,
leading to more variety in how British accents were shown in the media.”
*Ready Steady Go! (or RSG!) was a British rock/pop music television programme
broadcast every Friday evening from 9 August 1963 until 23 December 1966.
