Where did received pronunciation come from?
The term “received pronunciation” was coined in 1869 by linguist AJ Ellis around the time that it was adopted as the official standard of pronunciation for the Oxford English Dictionary. This was, of course, the height of Queen Victoria’s reign in the UK and the social elite were thriving (think Downton Abbey).
Who introduced the term received pronunciation?
Alexander Ellis
It is also known as British Received Pronunciation, BBC English, the Queen’s English, and posh accent. Standard British English is sometimes used as a synonym. The term received pronunciation was introduced and described by phonetician Alexander Ellis in his book “Early English Pronunciation” (1869).
What is received pronunciation based on?
History of Received Pronunciation The accent itself was loosely based on the accents of London, Cambridge and Oxford, but instead of indicating where the speaker was from within England, it indicated their social class. You’ll sometimes hear it called Oxford English, thanks to its association with the elite university.
How common is received pronunciation?
The term RP has murky origins, but it is regarded as the accent of those with power, influence, money and a fine education – and was adopted as a standard by the BBC in 1922. Today, it is used by 2% of the population.
What do you mean by Received Pronunciation of English?
RP: a social accent of English Received Pronunciation, or RP for short, is the instantly recognisable accent often described as ‘typically British’. Popular terms for this accent, such as ‘the Queen’s English’, ‘Oxford English’ or ‘BBC English’ are all a little misleading.
When did Received Pronunciation start in the UK?
It can surprise people to learn that Received Pronunciation is a relatively recent arrival on the British accent scene. Surely this way of speaking – often viewed as prestigious due to its associations with the Royal Family, the British establishment, and the BBC – has been there since English began? Not so.
Who is the author of the Received Pronunciation?
Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. Received pronunciation, commonly abbreviated as RP, is a once prestigious variety of British English spoken without an identifiable regional dialect.
Is the Received Pronunciation the authoritative British accent?
Only a fraction of people speak with the received pronunciation accent, and yet it is considered to be the authoritative British accent. What gives? If you are a non-Brit, chances are when you imagine a British accent you’re thinking of a crisp, clean, regal and very intelligent sounding lilt: think the Queen of England or BBC reporters.
