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.