Received Pronunciation

Received Pronunciation

Received Pronunciation (RP) is a special way of speaking British English. Many people think of it as the standard way to talk in England. It has been well-known around the English-speaking world since the early 1900s. Some call it the Queen’s English or the King’s English.

RP is only about how words are pronounced, not about the words themselves, the grammar, or the style of speaking. Experts have different ideas about what RP means and where it comes from.

This accent became important in the late 1800s. It sounds most like the way people talk in parts of southern England, especially around London, Oxford, and Cambridge. In 1922, the BBC chose this way of speaking for their broadcasts because many people around the world could understand it.

Some people have called it other names too, like “BBC Pronunciation” or “The Queen’s English”. Others prefer names like “General British” or “Standard Southern British”.

RP is often linked to high social class. It used to be the everyday speech of families in Southern England. Surveys show that RP is still considered the most prestigious accent in the United Kingdom today.

In the early days of British broadcasting, speakers often used RP. The BBC made a group to help with correct pronunciation, but this stopped when the Second World War began. After the war, RP became less common in broadcasting. Today, RP is still often used by English-born announcers on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4.

Most English dictionaries in Britain, including the Oxford English Dictionary, show RP pronunciations. Special pronunciation dictionaries, like the English Pronouncing Dictionary, are based on RP. RP has been used in teaching British English.

RP has changed over time. For example, old recordings show that words like land used to sound a bit like lend. Even Queen Elizabeth II changed her pronunciation during her time as queen.

The way people spoke on the BBC in the 1950s sounds very different from today. These older voices are often used for funny effects in shows that make fun of old-fashioned ways of talking.

RP is used by many famous people, including members of the British royal family and well-known actors, writers, and public figures like Julie Andrews, David Attenborough, Judi Dench, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Emma Watson, and many others.