TimesTalks: Michael Caine: An Accent That Broke Class Barriers

As an actor, Michael Caine chose to keep his native Cockney accent to make a statement about Englands class system. It was to encourage other people from working-class backgrounds to say that they could (succeed).

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News & Politics

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• The New York Times
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• NYT
• TimesTalks
• Michael Caine
• acting
• film career
• roles
• accent
• Cockney
• England

[BlackDahliaMurder214]

Man, if i got robbed by a gangster with a cockney accent, id feel like im playing Fable

[Mrtre7]

@rejectedchik89 That's different. In America, like everywhere in the world for that matter, there is a local accent from which you can tell where people is from. Then if you are prejudiced against that particular part of the country you react accordingly. In England, different wealth classes belonging to the same area (London but also Essex) speak differently. It is a distinctive trait of social condition. It is literally a code, a message to let others know who's your mate and who isn't.

[quarkwrok]

@ttlwh no the actual mobility is roughly the same and has been since the 19th century with the same working/middle/upper classes but the accents are much more distinct and the pressure to adopt the relevant accent immense. 3 of my grandparents had very working class accents but weren't all poor, both my parents quite middle class, my sister is quite posh but I have a more working class London accent and I live in the Midlands!

[Matthewkilb]

'Michael Caine chose to keep his native Cockney accent'?

Don't make me laugh!

He probably claims that these days, seeing as he seems to have turned into the world's most pompous man.

[aomimezura11]

Michael Caine chose to keep his native Cockney accent...

Then he says "this isn't a cockney accent, it's general" WTF DUDE? I want to hear his bloody accent damn it!

[dpthomas37]

why are the comments below about castrated bulls. this is about michael caine.

[16nwb1]

Love him 

[rejectedchik89]

@kjohnson5525 Here. "For instance, people who have heavy southern accents are usually considered to be inferior" is that better, or...? Do I need bigger words? Do I need to have perfect, exuberant, eloquent grammar all of the time? Especially when I'm talking about accents and not grammar at all?

[kjohnson5525]

@rejectedchik89 lol yes a bit more unintelligent....... or people who say a bit more unintelligent come across as less smarterer......

[zachsmith88]

@Kie10McC "a : a male bovine; especially : an adult uncastrated male domestic bovine

b : a usually adult male of various large animals (as elephants, whales, or seals)" (miriam-webster)

"Noun 1. Bos taurus - domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age; "so many head of cattle"; "wait till the cows come home"; "seven thin and ill-favored kine"- Bible; 'a team of oxen'" (thefreedictionary) I have not been able to find this "species" of cattle you speak of.