The RP English Accent – What is it, how does it sound, and who uses it?

Summary

This video discusses Received Pronunciation (RP), a historically prestigious British accent. It explains RP's neutrality, association with the upper class, and evolution over time. The speaker highlights how RP has changed, with fewer people using it and modern RP speakers adapting their speech to fit in. Examples of modern and traditional RP are given, emphasizing its current status as a minority accent in the UK.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Received Pronunciation (RP) is considered the standard accent taught in language schools worldwide, often associated with prestige and education.
• 📍 RP is described as a regionally neutral middle-class accent of England, meaning it does not reveal the speaker's specific geographic origin within the UK.
• 👑 The term 'Queen's English' is sometimes used to refer to RP, but the Queen's actual accent is distinct and more unique than standard RP.
• 📢 In the past, RP was a requirement for BBC news presenters, but the media landscape has evolved to be more inclusive of diverse accents and backgrounds.
• 🎓 'Oxford English' was once synonymous with RP among professors and students at prestigious universities like Oxford and Cambridge, but this has changed to embrace a broader demographic.
• 🚫 RP avoids slang and dialect, focusing on Standard English, which is free from regionalisms and colloquialisms.
• 🗣️ Accents can reveal a person's background and life experiences, but RP specifically does not indicate the speaker's UK region.
• 🔢 Only a small percentage of the UK population, approximately 2 to 3%, speaks with a Received Pronunciation accent.
• 🕰️ RP was historically linked to wealth and power, but societal changes post-World War II led to a shift in its social connotations.
• 🎭 Some individuals may attempt to disguise their RP accent to avoid negative perceptions or to fit in with different social groups.
• 📉 Modern RP has seen changes, including the shortening of long vowel sounds, making it sound less distinct and more relatable.

Q & A

What is Received Pronunciation (RP)?

Received Pronunciation, often shortened to 'RP', is a regionally neutral middle-class accent of England, widely taught in language schools around the world.

Why is RP sometimes referred to as the Queen's English?

RP has been called the Queen's English over the last 50-100 years because people assume the Queen speaks with this accent, although her actual accent is unique and differs from RP.

Why was RP once associated with BBC English?

There was a time when most news presenters on the BBC were required to have a Received Pronunciation accent, but society has since become more inclusive, allowing for a variety of accents in the media.

What is the difference between RP and the Queen's actual accent?

The Queen's accent is described as very smart and unique, not quite the same as Received Pronunciation.

How has the perception of RP changed over time?

Up until the 20th century, RP was associated with wealth and power, but societal changes post-World War II have led to a more inclusive and diverse representation of accents in various sectors.

What does RP avoid in terms of language use?

RP avoids slang and dialect, focusing on Standard English without abbreviations or influences from other forms of speech such as rap music.

How does RP reveal a person's background?

While RP does not reveal where in the UK a person is from, it does show their socio-economic background and life experiences.

What percentage of the UK population speaks with an RP accent?

Only 2 to 3% of the UK population is estimated to have the RP accent.

How has the pronunciation of RP evolved?

The long vowel sounds in RP have become shortened over time, making it a flatter accent in its pronunciation.

Who are some notable speakers of RP?

Notable speakers of RP include Prince Charles, Kate Middleton (Duchess of Cambridge), Jeremy Paxman, Joanna Lumley, and Boris Johnson.

How can one distinguish between modern and traditional RP accents?

Modern RP tends to have shortened diphthongs, whereas traditional RP uses double vowel sounds, making it sound more formal and old-fashioned.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Received Pronunciation Overview

The speaker introduces Received Pronunciation (RP), a widely taught British accent, and discusses its definition as a regionally neutral middle-class accent of England. It clarifies misconceptions about the Queen's English and the role of RP in the BBC and at prestigious universities like Oxford and Cambridge. The paragraph also touches on the use of RP with Standard English, avoiding slang and dialect, and the speaker's own accent influences. Historically associated with wealth and power, RP has evolved with societal changes post-World War II, leading to a decrease in its prevalence and a rise in regional accents' importance.

05:01

🎭 The Evolution and Perception of Received Pronunciation

This paragraph delves into the evolution of the Received Pronunciation accent, noting its changes over time and its current status as less prominent due to societal shifts towards inclusivity and diversity. The speaker mentions the accent's negative connotations and how some individuals modify their speech to avoid it. The paragraph highlights the modernization of RP, with long vowel sounds being shortened as a form of self-protection and to fit in with societal norms. Examples of traditional and modern RP pronunciation are given, and notable figures who speak with an RP accent are listed, including Prince Charles, Kate Middleton, and Jeremy Paxman. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the limited number of people who actually speak with an RP accent and encourages viewers to observe British television to identify the accent and understand its implications about a speaker's background.

Keywords

💡Received Pronunciation

Received Pronunciation (RP) is a standardized accent of British English, often perceived as the 'correct' or 'proper' way of speaking English in the UK. It is the accent most commonly taught in language schools worldwide. In the video, RP is discussed as a regionally neutral middle-class accent, which does not reveal the speaker's geographic origin within the UK. The script mentions that RP has been historically associated with prestige and has been taught in top educational institutions like Oxford and Cambridge.

💡Regional Accent

A regional accent is a type of speech that is characteristic of a particular area or region. The video script explains that RP is 'regionally neutral,' meaning it does not indicate where in the UK the speaker is from. This is contrasted with regional accents that are specific to certain places, such as the West Country dialect mentioned in the transcript.

💡Queen's English

The term 'Queen's English' has been used to refer to Received Pronunciation due to the assumption that Queen Elizabeth II speaks with this accent. However, the video clarifies that the Queen actually speaks with a unique accent that differs from RP, emphasizing the misconception about the association between royalty and this particular accent.

💡BBC English

BBC English historically referred to the use of Received Pronunciation by news presenters on the British Broadcasting Corporation. The script notes a shift in the BBC's approach, moving towards greater inclusivity and representation of various regional accents, reflecting societal changes in the UK.

💡Standard English

Standard English is the variety of the English language used in formal speech and writing, characterized by the absence of slang, dialect, and non-standard grammar. The video explains that RP is used with Standard English, avoiding slang and regionalisms, thus maintaining a formal and neutral tone.

💡Dialect

A dialect is a form of language specific to a particular group of people, often associated with a certain geographical area. The script uses the term to contrast with Received Pronunciation, which is not tied to any specific region and is therefore considered 'regionally neutral.'

💡Estuary English

Estuary English is a type of English spoken in the Thames Estuary area of England, characterized by certain phonetic and grammatical features. In the script, the speaker mentions having influences from Estuary English in their own speech, depending on who they are speaking to, indicating the fluidity of accents.

💡Wealth and Power

The script discusses how, historically, the Received Pronunciation accent was associated with wealth and power in the UK. This is exemplified by its prevalence among the upper classes and its use in authoritative institutions prior to societal changes post-World War II.

💡Labour Government

The Labour Government, first elected in the UK after World War II, is mentioned in the script as a catalyst for societal change. This change led to a more diverse workforce and a shift in the perception and use of accents, including RP.

💡Diphthong

A diphthong is a complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel quality and glides into another within the same syllable. The video script discusses the evolution of RP, noting that long vowel sounds, or diphthongs, have become shortened in modern RP to avoid sounding overly formal or 'ridiculous.'

💡Prince Charles

Prince Charles is mentioned in the script as an example of someone who speaks with a traditional Received Pronunciation accent. His accent is described as old-fashioned, contrasting with the modern RP accent spoken by others, such as his daughter-in-law, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.

Highlights

Received Pronunciation (RP) is an accent of Great Britain, often taught in language schools worldwide.

RP is defined as the regionally neutral middle-class accent of England.

It is called 'Queen's English' due to a common misconception, but the Queen does not actually speak RP.

BBC English used to require RP, but society has changed, and inclusivity is now valued.

RP was also known as Oxford English, but this is no longer the case in academia.

RP is used with Standard English, avoiding slang and dialect.

Dialect is language specific to a certain place, unlike RP.

Only 2 to 3% of the UK population speaks with an RP accent.

Benjamin's accent has influences from Estuary English and his Devonian background.

RP was historically associated with wealth and power until societal changes post-World War II.

Some people disguise their RP accent to fit in, due to its negative connotations.

RP is characterized by clipped, precise tones and can sound serious or cold.

The accent has evolved over time, with long vowel sounds becoming shortened.

Prince Charles speaks with a traditional RP accent, while others like Prince William and Prince Harry have adapted their speech.

Jeremy Paxman and Joanna Lumley are examples of speakers with a modern RP accent.

Old RP accent features double vowel sounds, while modern RP has more natural, single vowel sounds.

Most people in the UK speak with regional accents, not RP.

Watching British television can help identify RP and understand its speakers.

Transcripts

Hi there. I'm going to be talking to you today about Received Pronunciation, often shortened

to "RP", which is an accent of Great Britain, probably most widely taught as the accent

that you're meant to learn in language schools around the world. So I'm going to be talking

about the relevance, the place of RP who actually speaks with an RP accent in Britain.

Okay, so RP is defined as the regionally neutral middle-class accent of England. Regionally

neutral. What that means is by hearing this accent I don't know where in the UK the speaker

is from. So they might be from Devon, Wales, London, Yorkshire, anywhere. This accent is

not from a particular place. Now, it has also been called over the last 50-100 years the

Queen's English because people assume that the Queen speaks with Received Pronunciation.

She actually doesn't. The Queen speaks in a very unique accent, which differs from Received

Pronunciation. She has a very smart accent. It's not quite the same.

BBC English, yes there did used to be a time when most of the news presenters on the BBC

were required to have a Received Pronunciation accent, but now society has changed and it

is more inclusive, so people from different parts of the United Kingdom, people who have

gone to less privileged schools are able to get jobs in the BBC and all other sectors

and industries.

It's also referred to as Oxford English. So there was a time 30-40 years ago when all

the professors at Oxford and when all the students at Oxford and Cambridge would speak

with RP. But again, that's changed and there is a drive in schools to try and get the best

school... The best students from the government schools into these top universities.

What is it, Benjamin? It's an accent. Okay? It's used with Standard English. So if someone

is using a lot of slang, a lot of abbreviation, mixing where their words are from, from rap

music and stuff, that wouldn't be Standard English. It avoids slang and dialect. Dialect

is the language particular to a certain place. For example, a West Country dialect would

be particular words from that place.

This accent reveals, shows someone's background. Okay? So it shows what kind of life they have

had so far. It doesn't show where they are from in the United Kingdom. In fact, only

2 to 3% of the UK population have this accent. You might be wondering: "Do you have this

accent, Benjamin?" and the answer to that is: To some degree, but not entirely. So my

accent has influences from some Estuary English, and it sort of depends who I am speaking to

as to how... How my accent is placed. I'm from Devon and sometimes I will veer towards

a Devonian sound, but most of the time I will sound like someone from the southeast of England

because that is where I have lived most.

So, a history of this accent. In the... Up until the 20th century this accent was associated

with wealth and power, but then after World War II society changed in the United Kingdom.

We had a Labour Government for the first time, the NHS was created, and people started getting

different types of jobs. They started getting better jobs, you started getting a mix of

people. And with that, regional accents have become more important. In fact, some people

like to disguise an RP accent, so they'll start trying to speak a little bit like this,

and start dropping their t's, and say: "Lil" and "innit" and stuff. I'm exaggerating, but

it does have negative connotations, the RP accent so some people try to change their

voice to fit in.

Still not sure what it is? Well, it's speaking in clipped, precise tones. Okay? It sounds

quite a sort of serious accent. Maybe some people feel that it sounds quite cold.

How has it evolved? It's not the same accent, Received Pronunciation, that it was a hundred

years ago. Okay? The accent changes, just as an accent from Yorkshire, or from Wales,

and Ireland will change over time. It's not a fixed: This is the accent.

How it's been changed recently? The long vowel sounds have become shortened. Why is that?

To... As a feeling of self-protection. You don't want to expose yourself by speaking

in this ridiculous manner. So, a diphthong which is a double vowel sound, for example:

"poo-er" would now be pronounced: "poor". A poor person rather than a poo-er person.

"Come here" rather than: "Come heeere", "here", "here". Okay? So these diphthongs are being

shortened. It's now a flatter accent in its pronunciation.

Who speaks with an RP accent? Prince Charles with a traditional RP accent, an old-fashioned

one. His daughter-in-law, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. Whereas... So she has come from

a different background to her husband, Prince William, but she's really taken on this sort

of traditional accent in the way she speaks, whereas William, and... Prince William and

Prince Harry who come from the most privileged backgrounds slightly disguise the way they

speak by flattening some of their vowel sounds. You'll also hear this accent from Jeremy Paxman

who is wonderful to listen to, a highly-intelligent man; Joanna Lumley, another wonderful TV presenter

who makes fascinating travel documentaries; and Boris Johnson, make of him what you will.

So, how do we know...? I just want to give you a couple more examples of these diphthongs

so you can start to tell whether it's a modern RP accent or an old one. Remember the old

one takes that double vowel sound. So if you ask for a glass of beer, that would be modern,

whereas the old-fashioned would be a "be-er, "be-er, please". If something is near, near.

Is it near? Is the shop near? Okay? That's the modern sound. "Nee-uh", "Is it Nee-uh?"

Okay? It's a slightly more formal sound. It's more sort of, I don't know, up to you how

you find it. If something is "eweld", "eweld", okay, that's the traditional way, as opposed

to if something is "old". So it's more natural, the modern way.

So, let's put this accent in its place. Yeah? Remember 2% of the United Kingdom. Most people

speak more with the regional accent. Okay? The north of England, the Midlands, and it

has very much become a part... An accent of England. You go to Wales, you go to Scotland,

you go to Ireland - you're not going to hear RP. People take more pride in their accent

from where they are from.

I hope this has been informative for you. So why not now start watching some British

television? Can you start to place...? Can you hear this accent at all? How are people

talking, and what does it show about them? Thank you. See you next time.