Scientist claims a surprising accent is the 'most influential in the WORLD'
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The Cockney accent is synonymous with east London legends like Barbara Windsor and Michael Caine. But even though you might not Adam and Eve it, researchers say that the dialect has now become 'one of the most influential' accents in the world. According to linguistics expert Dr Amanda Cole, of the University of Essex, the distinctive accent has changed the way people speak across the UK from Reading to Glasgow.
![[Traditionally, a Cockney was someone born within earshot of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside (pictured). However, the influence of the accent has spread all over the UK and even as far as Australia]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/09/93861689-14262059-image-a-22_1736330078300.jpg)
More surprisingly, Dr Cole has found that the Cockney dialect has even influenced speakers as far as Australia and New Zealand. While the Cockney accent is on the decline in its native heartland of London, this iconic dialect now mainly lives on in Essex.
![[The Cockney accent, as famously spoken by Sir Michael Caine (pictured), features accentuated vowels and words which drop the 'h' or 'g']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/09/93859223-14262059-image-m-18_1736329980973.jpg)
Thanks to migration out of London after World War II, you are now much more likely to hear the distinctive vowels and dropped 'h' of a Cockney accent in Chelmsford than in Cheapside. Dr Cole says: 'What we find is Cockney has been really influential, particularly in Essex, and across the south-east and the country.
![[Studies have shown that even Queen Elizabeth II was not immune to the influence of the Cockney accent as her speeches gradually shifted closer towards this dialect between 1950 and 1980. Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II meets the 'Pearly King and Queen' of Newham in 2002]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/10/93859407-14262059-Studies_have_shown_that_even_Queen_Elizabeth_II_was_not_immune_t-a-2_1736332341909.jpg)
'And a lot of people’s accents have been changing to become more Cockney-like. Not exactly Cockney, more estuary English.'. The Cockney accent might be most associated with East London legends like Barbara Windsor (pictured), but researchers say that it is actually one of the world's most influential accents.
![[The stereotypical Cockney accent used by actors like Danny Dyer has declined in London, partly due to ongoing prejudice against working-class accents. However, thanks to emigration from London after World War II, the hallmarks of the Cockney accent still live on in Essex]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/10/93859333-14262059-The_stereotypical_Cockney_accent_used_by_actors_like_Danny_Dyer_-a-3_1736332341911.jpg)
Traditionally, a Cockney was someone born within earshot of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside (pictured). However, the influence of the accent has spread all over the UK and even as far as Australia. Traditionally, a true Cockney was said to be someone born within earshot of Bow Bells - referring to the church of St Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside.
![[Today, Essex is the most Cockney part of the UK. People from Essex, such as Stacey Solomon, still use pronunciations associated with the East London accent which were brought over from London in the 1950s]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/10/93859393-14262059-Today_Essex_is_the_most_Cockney_part_of_the_UK_People_from_Essex-a-1_1736332341908.jpg)
