I. A Few Phonetic Notes.
As regards phonetics, Jerome’s language shows us the usual characteristic alterations and abbreviations of vulgar speech.
The uncultivated individual instantly and invariably unmasks himself by dropping his »h’s», however he may struggle to avoid it. On the other hand, an h not existing in ordinary pronunciation, is sometimes heard before a vowel, especially in pathetic speech.
Heven money on the Purple Hemperor! (Three Men On The Bummel, 74. 10.)
The lean girl said she had »erd on me». The fat girl remarked genteelly that she too had »heard hof me». with emphasis upon the »hof». (P. Kelver II. 68. 6.)
A man’s wife orter be to ’im a gawdess, a hangel, a — —. (Novel Notes 212. 31.)
Mar is quite hanxious to see you. (P. Kelver II. 64. 30.)
Thank you, I don’t heat cocoanuts that have been shied at by anybody. (P. Kelver II. 64. 16.)
Another characteristic of non-culture, often ridiculed in comic papers, is the pronunciation of u:
| dooty | instead of duty. | (Novel Notes 52. 10.) |
| amatoor | » » amateur. | (Tea Table Talk 163. 9.) |
| dook | » » duke. | (» » »136. 18.) |
| menoo | » » menu. | (» » »126. 12.) |
| soot | » » suit. | (Tommy and Co. 38. 26.) |
| literatoor | » » literature. | (T. T. T. 158. 22.) |
| Etc. | ||
An r, consisting of a scarcely perceptible vibration of the tip of the tongue (named vanish-r by Ellis), is often heard in words and combinations where it does not exist in ordinary pronunciation. In some cases, it seems to be used to avoid a hiatus, in others, it is evidently the effect of an exaggerated palatal pronunciation of the vowel.
| droaring-room: drawing-room | (P. Kelver II. 65. 30.) |
| oughter ave: ought to have | (Sketches 195. 12.) |
| arter: after | (Novel Notes 205. 7.) |
| arf: half | (» » 204. 4.) |
| arst: asked | (» » 212. 6.) |
| follered: followed | (» » 213. 5.) |
| carn’t: can’t | (» » 204. 3.) |
A long vowel is often abbreviated: weskit for ‘waistcoat’, gal, gel for ‘girl’, dunno for ‘don’t know’, agin for ‘again’, etc.; while, on the other hand, a short vowel (esp. o) is sometimes lengthened: dawg for ‘dog’, gawd for ‘god’ (Novel Notes 212).
(The same pron. of short o exists in the Essex dialect.)
In vulgar London speech, w is sometimes heard instead of v. Jerome’s language offers, however, but one sample: wiolets (T. T. T. 137. 5.)
(The pronunciation of w as v, Veller for Weller, etc. is said to be extinct in modern vulgar English.)
The g in words ending with -ing, esp. the present participle, is mostly mute in vulgar pronunciation.
| bloomin’ | (Novel Notes 203. 9). | |
| mornin’ | (» » 204. 20). | |
| sendin’ | } | (P. Kelver 65. 19). |
| thinkin’ | } | |
| cracklin’ | (» » II. 71. 4). | |
| sellin’ | (» » II. 58. 9). | |
| Etc. | ||
This pronunciation of the participle is, however, rather an archaism. Sendin’. etc., is the ancient, dialectic pronunciation, and is not exclusively characteristic of vulgar language. Our author tells us that it has been—and is perhaps at present—the fashion among certain circles of the capital: «He suppressed a yawn, and replied, ‘Mornin’ dropping the g. The custom was just coming into fashion; he was always correct». (Sketches 51. 9.)
Blasé Billy.
Other anomalisms are: sich for such, hisself for himself, forarther for further (T. T. T. 247. 12), allus for always, mar for mother (P. Kelver II. 64. 30), oss for horse (Sketches 195. 20).