Multicultural London English (abbreviated MLE) is a dialect (and/or sociolect) of English that emerged in the late 20th century. It is spoken authentically by working-class, mainly young people in inner London, and some outer London areas such as Brent, Ealing, Newham, Croydon, Sutton and Enfield. However, elements of the sociolect are widely imitated throughout southern England. According to research conducted at Queen Mary, University of London, Multicultural London English is gaining territory from Cockney.
It is said to contain many elements from the languages of the Caribbean (Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago), South Asia (Indian subcontinent), West Africa, along with the Polish articulation, as well as remnants of traditional Cockney. Although the colloquial name "Jafaican" implies that it is "fake" Jamaican, researchers indicate that it is not the language of white youth trying to imitate black, but rather that " more likely that young people have been growing up in London exposed to a mixture of second-language English and local London English and that this new variety has emerged from that mix".
Famous quotes containing the words london and/or english:
“Oh, London is a man’s town, there’s power in the air;
And Paris is a woman’s town, with flowers in her hair;
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But when it comes to living, there is no place like home.”
—Henry Van Dyke (1852–1933)
“The English are crooked as a nation and honest as individuals. The contrary is true of the French, who are honest as a nation and crooked as individuals.”
—Edmond De Goncourt (1822–1896)