|
There are 44 sounds (called phonemes) in the English language. However, different varieties, dialects, and accents use different sounds and phonemes. On this page you can find the phonemes of "RP" - a variety of British English. |
Hear the phonemes of Canadian English here!
|
The phonemes of "modern RP"
The vowel sounds of RP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The consonant sounds of RP
|
|
|
|
|
What is RP?
RP stands for received pronunciation. In this case, "received" means "generally accepted" . The name means that it is the standard pronunciation of British English. In the early 1900s, this was the pronunciation of British elites in the south-east of England. These speakers were usually well-educated, wealthy, and attended British public school (called private schools in other English-speaking countries).
However, the term received pronunciation is now over 100 years old. Both the English language, and the centres of power in British society, have changed. Today, no more than 3% of British people speak the old form of RP - called conservative RP.
Sometimes, the accent that many people in London and the south of England speak is called modern RP, and is more common than traditional RP. In British society, however, modern RP is just one of a large number of British accents, and TV, radio, and other media represent a wide variety of accents from all around the UK.
RP remains, however, the standard pronunciation used for dictionaries of British English. In dictionaries and textbooks, either British RP or General American English are used. Therefore, English students around the world may be more familiar with the RP pronunciation of words.
However, the term received pronunciation is now over 100 years old. Both the English language, and the centres of power in British society, have changed. Today, no more than 3% of British people speak the old form of RP - called conservative RP.
Sometimes, the accent that many people in London and the south of England speak is called modern RP, and is more common than traditional RP. In British society, however, modern RP is just one of a large number of British accents, and TV, radio, and other media represent a wide variety of accents from all around the UK.
RP remains, however, the standard pronunciation used for dictionaries of British English. In dictionaries and textbooks, either British RP or General American English are used. Therefore, English students around the world may be more familiar with the RP pronunciation of words.
RP interesting facts:
- RP was and is rarely spoken in Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. RP may be an English accent (from England), rather than a British one.
- RP claims to be a region-free accent. So, if you hear someone with an RP accent, you should not be able to tell where they are from in England.
- There is a lot of debate over what accent or accents are modern RP.
- Conservative RP is considered posh today. That is, spoken only by upper-class, wealthy British elites.
- Conservative RP has also been known as "Queen's English" and "BBC English." Queen Elizabeth speaks conservative RP.
