Received Pronunciation: History and Status
Evolution of Received Pronunciation (RP)
Received Pronunciation (RP) is a form of pronunciation of British English which has long been perceived as prestigious amongst British accents. RP is often believed to be based on Southern accents, but in fact, it has most in common with the dialects of the South-East Midlands: Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, and Huntingdonshire.
Historical Development of RP
By the end of the 15th century, “Standard English” was established in the City of London. How did this accent become “the model accent”? The English language has always had its regional pronunciations, the same as any other language. Yet, at the same time, especially for the last five centuries, there has existed in Britain the notion that one kind of pronunciation of English was socially preferable to others. For reasons of politics, commerce, and the presence of the Court, it was the pronunciation of the South-East of England that this prestige was attached to.
Through the influence of the public schools of the nineteenth century, this pronunciation was finally fixed as the speech of the ruling class. According to a manual from 1869, the “best accent” was taught at Eton and Oxford. Therefore, the use of RP was considered a trait of education. Moreover, its dissemination as a “class pronunciation” throughout the country caused it to be recognised not as a regional accent, but as an accent of a “social stratum”. Pronunciation was a marker of position in society.
Why RP Became the Model Accent
There are clear historical reasons for the adoption of RP as the model accent: in the first half of the twentieth century, virtually any English person qualified to teach in a university and write textbooks would have been educated at privately funded schools. RP was the accent of the privately educated. It would therefore have been a bizarre decision at that time to choose to teach any other accent to foreign learners.
It survived as the model accent for various reasons:
- Its widespread use in “prestige” broadcasting, such as news-reading. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) formerly recommended this form of pronunciation for its announcers, mainly because it was the type which was more widely understood and which excited less prejudice of a regional kind. In the 1920s, Lord Reith, director general of the BBC, believed that there was a right way to speak and insisted that his announcers should all speak properly and all sound the same. He saw it as his duty to ensure that the public knew the right way to speak.
- It was claimed to belong to no particular region, being found in all parts of Britain.
- It became accepted as a common currency, an accent that everyone in Britain knows and understands.
RP Today: Evolution and Variations
In the present-day situation, RP has evolved over time. Great prestige is still attached to this accepted social standard of pronunciation (RP). This special position has led to RP being the form of pronunciation most commonly described in books on the Phonetics of English. Besides, it is represented in the pronunciation schemes of most dictionaries.
However, even within RP itself, it is convenient to distinguish three main types:
- Conservative RP: Used by the older generation and the upper class (Aristocracy).
- General RP: Exemplified by the BBC.
- Advanced RP: Mainly used by young people, mostly in the upper-middle classes, and used also in certain professional circles.
Over the last decade, aspirations to “talk posh” have declined, maintains Tony Thorne, sociologist and specialist in contemporary slang. The “cut glass accent” is no longer considered desirable, even amongst the aristocracy.
RP as a Global Model
English is spoken as a first language by many, and of this number, native RP speakers are a minority. However, RP continues for historical reasons to serve as a model in many parts of the world. If a model is to be used at all, the choice is still between RP and American pronunciation.
- European countries often continue to teach RP.
- Asia and South America often follow the American model.