On the opposite sides of the continuum: Standard British English and Cockney. A Historical Outline of the Parallel Developments of the Two Varieties

Standard (British) English and Cockney are the varieties of English placed on the opposite ends of the linguistic continuum in the London area. The present article aims at drawing an outline of their almost parallel histories and developments. As far as Cockney is concerned, a description of its image in literature through time and of the origin and main features of its rhyming slang are also provided.