ABSTRACT
NRP – local regional mesolects – local regional basilects Which of these scenarios will finally emerge? Or will some unforeseen fashion or event change the whole picture? Is there, for instance, the possibility that Multicultural London English (see p. 170) will expand out of its present territory in Inner London, and be increasingly adopted by young white Londoners? Might it then lose its present ethnic minority associations, replace Cockney and associated varieties, and be transformed into an all-inclusive basilectal south-eastern English accent of the future? It’s interesting to speculate, but only time will tell. One thing is certain, living languages never stand still. So changes will take place and it’s a good bet that the older generation will go on complaining about the way the younger generation speaks.
