A Dictionary of Rhyming Slang Book

This re-issue of Julian Franklyn's classic dictionary not only defines these expressions but also explains their origin and history. His thirty-page introductory essay examines the roots and development of rhyming slang. Although many people assume that rhyming slang is exclusively Cockney, Franklyn illustrates how it is also common to Australian and American dialects. From the unlikely to the bizarre, the 1,500 entries both entertain and enlighten. Cartoons enliven a reference section which combines linguistic detail and cultural analysis. Whether reading the dictionary from cover to cover, or dipping into it as a reference tool, linguists and students of popular culture will find it the definitive source of information on rhyming slang. Julian Franklyn was born in London at the end of the last century. A lifelong Cockney speaker, he was also familiar with many other regional dialects. Eric Partridge helped to influence his interest in the interaction of environment with speech forms, which is shown fully in this book.