Elective A: Word and Image Gabriel Soto MA Graphic Branding and Identity London College of Communication University of the Arts London 2011
visual rhyming
A selection of Cockney Rhyming Slang expressions have been translated into simple illustrations in this booklet, to visually explore the odd unexpected connections and the signifier-signified duality. The expressions have been completely decontextualized from the Cockney aesthetics, in order to focus in the pure relations between words and images.
1
Cockney Rhyming Slang is a form of phrase construction originated in East London during the 19th century, in which words are given an alternate meaning through an association and replacement process that depends on the verbal form and pronunciation of the words (the signifier), and not on its actual meaning (the signified).
2
For example, the word “stairs” rhymes with the expression apples and pears. The user will omit the rhyming word (pears) and say only the non-rhyming word of the expression (apples). Therefore a resulting phrase in rhyming slang would be “I’m going up the apples” which stands for “I’m going up the stairs”.
stairs apples and pears apples and pears apples rhymes with
3
6
7
apples and pears 8
stairs 9
12
13
bucket and pail 14
jail 15
18
19
dog and bone 20
phone 21
24
25
bees and honey 26
money 27
30
31
mince pies 32
eyes 33
36
37
whistle and flute 38
suit 39
42
43
bacon and eggs 44
legs 45
48
49
jam jar 50
car 51
54
55
plates of meat 56
feet 57
58
Elective A: Word and Image Gabriel Soto MA Graphic Branding and Identity London College of Communication University of the Arts London 2011