Thank you, I don’t _h_eat 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).