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Carnival Row is a British-American television series that premiered on Amazon Prime Video in August 2019. Set in a fantasy world, the show explores themes of racism, xenophobia, and classism through the lens of a murder investigation in the titular Carnival Row, a neighborhood populated by mythical creatures who have fled their homelands due to war and persecution.
One of the most notable aspects of the show is its use of language. The creators of Carnival Row have crafted a unique blend of British dialects and accents, combined with invented languages and phrases that help to create a rich and immersive world.
One of the most prominent accents in the show is the Cockney accent, which is spoken by several characters, including Philo, the lead detective played by Orlando Bloom. The Cockney accent is associated with the working-class areas of London and is characterized by its distinct pronunciation of certain vowels and consonants. Philo’s accent helps to establish him as a gritty and determined detective who is not afraid to get his hands dirty.
In contrast, the character of Imogen, played by Tamzin Merchant, speaks with a received pronunciation (RP) accent, which is sometimes referred to as “BBC English.” This accent is associated with the upper-class and is characterized by its lack of regionalisms and its clear enunciation of all consonants and vowels. Imogen’s accent helps to establish her as a member of the privileged elite, who is out of touch with the realities of life in Carnival Row.
Another notable feature of the show’s language is the use of invented languages and phrases. The most prominent of these is “fae,” which is the term used to refer to the various magical creatures who live in Carnival Row. The fae speak a language that is characterized by its fluidity and musicality, with words and phrases that are often composed of multiple syllables and melodic sounds. The use of the fae language helps to create a sense of otherness and exoticism around the fae, while also highlighting the language barrier that exists between them and the human characters.
In addition to the fae language, the show also includes a number of other invented words and phrases. For example, “burgue” is the term used to refer to the human nation where the majority of the show takes place, while “critch” is a derogatory term used by humans to refer to the fae. These invented words help to create a sense of history and culture within the show’s world, while also highlighting the prejudices and biases that exist between different groups of people.
Overall, the language used in Carnival Row is one of the show’s greatest strengths. The use of regional dialects and accents, combined with invented languages and phrases, helps to create a rich and immersive world that feels both familiar and exotic. By using language in this way, the creators of the show are able to explore complex themes of identity and belonging, while also delivering a gripping murder mystery that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
