New Zealand English has developed as a unique variety of English with its own vocabulary, accent, and history. It originated from a mixing of dialects including Cockney English and other British regional accents. NZE is distinguished by its pronunciation of vowels, with shifts in vowel space and the development of new diphthongs not found in other varieties like Received Pronunciation. One such new diphthong is the pronunciation of 'me' as a two-part vowel, differing from other forms of English.

1. Emma chizit?English in Nya Zilind

2. NZENew Zealand English has emerged as a distinct variety of EnglishDistinctive vocabulary Distinctive accentDistinctive historySome current changes in NZE

3. The origins of NZENumber of theoriesCockney theoryMany early (but not just early commentators said that the Aus and NZ accent sounded like Cockney!Not a large number of Cockneys came to either colony, and was never a prestigious accentThe Australian theoryThe mixing/salad bowl theory

4. The idealised vowelsShape represents the mouth ROOF OF THE MOUTHBOOTBEATBITPUTFront of the mouthBACK of the mouthDRESSCAUGHTTAPCALM

5. Raising in the vowel spaceTap->dress, dress->bit->schwa (ə)BOOTBEATBITPUTə sofaDRESSCAUGHTTAPCALM

6. diphthongs2 part vowels are starting vowel and a target vowel Choice!BEATBITPUTDRESSCAUGHTTAPCALM

7. NZ versionsNZ pronunciations of some English diphthongs are both markers of social class (and gender?) and are distinct from RPBroad NZ General NZ (Cultivated NZ)Did you “go out my gate?”gocauldron a cauldron maromani geromanit

9. The new diphthongHeard in NZE and AusE but not RP ‘me’ now has a diphthongised productionThe beat vowel moving towards a 2 part vowelSchwa or bit to beat.Sounds like Kath n Kim Look at me! Look at me!We may have made a new diphthong but we are in the process of losing one.