Hackney man beat 100 others to become ‘the voice’ for new Cockney dialect app
Patrick with the Pearly Queen of Old Kent Road and the Pearly King of Forest Gate at the launch of the Cockney app - Credit: Archant
An app teaching how to speak Cockney launched today, to stir-up debate about the East End dialect.
Traditionally the term Cockney referred to those born within earshot of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside, but generally refers to the accent spoken by working-class Londoners where ‘t’s and ‘h’s’ are dropped.
There are 4,000 words and phrases to learn on uTalk’s app, like dog an’ bone meaning phone, and Rosy Lee referring to tea.
Actor Patrick Mackervaie, 50, from Albion Drive in London Fields, beat nearly 100 other applicants to be the voice of the app.
He said: “Cockney’s a fun language and I love playing around with it.
You may also want to watch:
“Some of my favourite phrases are, “going down the apples and pears, along the frog ‘n toad into the rub-a-dub for a bevvy sherbet. That is, “Going down the stairs, along the road, into the pub for a drink or two”.
“The East End is such a diverse place and there are people of all nationalities, but this is about giving something back to them to learn something about our own culture and having fun learning it.”
Most Read
- 1 Jailed: 'Dangerous' Hackney predator found with 1,600 indecent child images
- 2 Campaigners launch legal challenge against Hackney LTNs
- 3 Police appeal for help to trace wanted Dalston man
- 4 Shop Local: Stoke Newington entrepreneur launches dog accessory business
- 5 Hackney road closures 'will cost lives', says volunteer ambulance service
- 6 Joint Covid patrols launched to ensure lockdown rules are followed
- 7 'Common sense' prevails as Stamford Hill testing centre moved out of estate
- 8 Covid-safe shared workspaces in Hackney on flexibility without formalities
- 9 Hackney Council cyberattack: Stolen data published on the dark web
- 10 Lockdown: Thirteen card players busted by police in Hackney social club