Why William and Harry's accents are so different from King Charles's

Summary

This video compares the speech patterns of King Charles with those of his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, focusing on the differences between Received Pronunciation (RP) and Standard Southern British (SSB). The speaker explores how shifts in social class and pronunciation have evolved over time, particularly regarding vowel sounds and consonant changes. The video also delves into aspects like mumbling, uptalk, and specific speech features such as glottal stops, t-weakening, and TH-fronting, explaining how these elements differentiate the royal speech from more modern, relaxed accents.

Takeaways

• 😀 King Charles speaks with Received Pronunciation (RP), while his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, use Standard Southern British (SSB), a modern variation of RP.
• 😀 The differences in accents between King Charles and his sons reflect broader social changes in Britain, especially regarding class and pronunciation.
• 😀 Charles maintains RP vowel sounds, such as the PRICE vowel ([aɪ]), while William and Harry use a more relaxed SSB vowel ([ɑɪ]).
• 😀 The vowel in DRESS is pronounced more openly in SSB ([ɛ]) compared to RP ([e]).
• 😀 In words like FACE, the vowel sound shifts from RP’s ([eɪ]) to SSB’s more open ([ɛː]).
• 😀 William and Harry’s pronunciation of CHOICE uses a less open vowel ([ɔj]) compared to Charles’s more open RP version ([ɔɪ]).
• 😀 The vowel in SQUARE shifts from the diphthong ([ɛə]) in RP to the monophthong ([ɛː]) in SSB.
• 😀 King Charles uses a lax vowel in unstressed syllables like 'happY', while William and Harry use a tense vowel, characteristic of SSB.
• 😀 Glottal stops are a common feature in William and Harry’s speech, especially when a vowel follows, which Charles rarely uses.
• 😀 William’s speech sometimes exhibits 'mumbling' or rushed speech, which contrasts with Charles’s more measured and deliberate style.
• 😀 SSB features like uptalk (rising intonation on statements) and TH-fronting (pronouncing 'th' as 'f') are evident in William and Harry’s speech but absent in Charles’s.
• 😀 Prince Harry’s exposure to American English may influence his frequent use of glottal stops, a feature more common in American speech.

Q & A

What is the main difference between King Charles's speech and that of his sons William and Harry?

The main difference is that King Charles speaks in Received Pronunciation (RP), while his sons William and Harry speak in Standard Southern British (SSB), a more modern variant of RP.

Why are the differences in accents between King Charles and his sons more noticeable than between Charles and the Queen?

The differences are more noticeable because between Charles's childhood and William and Harry's time, Britain underwent significant social changes, which made being upper class less prestigious and led many in the upper classes, including the royal family, to shift their pronunciation.

What changes in vowel sounds can be observed between King Charles and his sons?

For example, King Charles uses the RP vowel in words like 'PRICE' with [aɪ], while William and Harry use the SSB version with [ɑj]. Similarly, Charles has the RP vowel in 'DRESS' as [e], while SSB uses a more open [ɛ].

What is the significance of the vowel difference in words like 'joy' and 'job' between King Charles and Harry?

King Charles's pronunciation of the vowel in 'joy' sounds like 'job' due to his RP accent, while Harry's version, using SSB, sounds more like 'jaw'. This difference is due to Harry's more modern vowel shift.

What role does the consonant 'L' play in the differences between King Charles and Harry's speech?

The dark L, a feature in many accents, especially in SSB, causes vowels in words like 'no' and 'soul' to sound different in Harry's speech compared to King Charles's more traditional RP pronunciation.

What is the glottal stop, and how does it differ between King Charles and his sons?

A glottal stop is when the consonant /t/ is replaced by a pause or break in the throat. King Charles avoids this, while William and Harry, especially Harry, often use the glottal stop in words like 'Charlotte'.

How does the /t/ sound vary in the speech of King Charles and his sons?

King Charles occasionally uses /t/ voicing or flapping, while his sons, particularly Harry, often use it more regularly. Additionally, William uses affrication, turning /t/ into a sound closer to 's', which is a feature of SSB.

What does the term 'mumbling' refer to, and how is it used to describe Charles's speech?

'Mumbling' refers to speaking quickly or missing syllables. It has been used to describe Charles's speech style, but he has become more careful in his enunciation since becoming king.

What is uptalk, and is it used by William and Harry?

Uptalk is when statements are spoken with rising intonation, making them sound like questions. It is a common feature in SSB and is something that can be heard in the speech of William and Harry.

What is TH-fronting, and how does it relate to William and Harry's speech?

TH-fronting is when the 'th' sound is pronounced as 'f', a phenomenon seen in younger British speakers. It appears occasionally in William and Harry's speech, though it is less consistent.

What is ejective k, and do William and Harry use it in their speech?

Ejective k is a type of sound that is produced with a burst of air. While it is a feature of some accents, it is not typically found in King Charles's speech but can be heard in the speech of William and Harry.