Received Pronunciation

Received Pronunciation Accent

Each British accent has distinct characteristics. The most noticeable features of Received Pronunciation are as follows:

Non-rhoticity

Like most other British accents, RP is non-rhotic, meaning the /r/ sound in the middle or at the end of a word is dropped unless a vowel comes after it. For example:

Long Vowel

RP uses the long /ɑː/ vowel sound. For example:

Linking R

The linking r sound is also a feature of RP - adding an /r/ sound if a word ending in "r" is followed by a vowel sound. For example:

Intrusive R

Sometimes, the RP accent inserts an /r/ sound in words that do not include an "r" in the spelling. This is known as the intrustive r. It usually occurs when:

• A syllable that ends in a vowel sound is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel sound.

• A word that ends in a vowel sound is followed by a word that starts with a vowel sound.

In order to jump from vowel to vowel, it is easier to insert the "r" consonant. Think of it as a stepping stone between two vowel sounds! For example:

Hard T

The RP accent tends to clearly pronounce the letter t in the middle of words (known as a hard t or true t). For example:

Types of Received Pronunciation

Like other accents, there are different varieties of RP. These are:

• Conservative

• Mainstream

• Contemporary

All three varieties of RP are regionally non-specific, meaning the accent doesn't necessarily give us any information about the geographical location of the speaker. However, the different RP accents could tell us something about the age and social class of the speaker. For example, older generations are more likely to speak with a conservation RP accent, whereas younger people may speak with a contemporary RP accent.

Conservative RP

Conservative RP is the most traditional and well-established variety of Received Pronunciation. It is typically spoken by older generations and is traditionally associated with those in the upper classes and those in the government. If you've ever seen old British TV shows, this is probably the type of RP that was used. It is rarely used nowadays.

Mainstream RP

Mainstream RP (also known as general RP) is quite neutral, meaning that it does not give much away about a speaker's age, job, or social class. This is the variety of RP most people are familiar with. You will probably hear this in the media, such as on the news.

Contemporary RP

Contemporary RP (also known as modern RP) is mainly spoken by younger people (such as teenagers and young adults). Because of this, more colloquial terms may be used. It shares some similarities with Estuary English, which is an accent that sits somewhere between RP and Cockney (spoken in London).

Differences between Conservative and Contemporary RP

Below are some examples of the differences between Conservative and Contemporary RP:

Received Pronunciation Examples

Below are some examples of sentences transcribed using the RP pronunciation:

Received Pronunciation vs. Posh

Received Pronunciation is often regarded as a "posh" accent. But is there a difference between having an RP accent and being posh?

Received Pronunciation refers to an accent, but posh is more than an accent. It can be used to describe a person's lifestyle and is often associated with the higher classes in society. Stereotypically, if you are described as "posh," this implies that you are wealthy and have a taste for more luxurious things. If you think of a "posh" person, you may be picturing top hats, monocles, and fancy dresses...

Fig. 2 - Stereotypically "posh" people!

Traditionally, a "posh" person in the United Kingdom, and even English speakers worldwide, would have had an RP accent, as this was the accent used to educate the upper classes in society. However, nowadays, being "posh" does not mean you must have an RP accent, and having an RP accent does not automatically make you "posh"! The two terms are no longer used synonymously with one another.