What is Received Pronunciation and How to Learn it Correctly?
Received pronunciation is also known as RP for short. Received pronunciation can be recognized immediately as “typically British”. Received pronunciation was known as ‘the Queen’s English”. This pronunciation now covers many accents but can imply where in a country the speakers are from. Vowel pronunciation is more useful than consonant pronunciation when you compare regional accents. Received pronunciation is studied and taught the most and the majority of dictionaries use this type of pronunciation. Received pronunciation has changed over time and now every accent is represented. The following are suggestions on how to learn to speak received pronunciation correctly:
Listen to native speakers speak.
Say the words clearly and slowly. English speakers will pronounce all the syllables and consonants of each word they are saying.
Learn how to use the long vowels. Words such as “bath” and “dance” are pronounced with a long “ahh” sound in British English.
Make a space after you pronounce the ‘r’ sound as a sound in its own right for example mother and daughter – do not roll the ‘r’ sound of mother into the and.
Learn the 44 sounds of the English language. Although there are 26 letters in the English alphabet there are 44 clear and distinct sounds.
Learn how to use intonation. English speakers will use intonation differently to other languages. English speakers’ voices will rise and fall so listen carefully.
Also learn how to speak with the correct stress on words. Check with a good dictionary which shows how to pronounce the words correctly as these dictionaries will also show you the stress on how these words are said by breaking the word into syllables.
Learn how to pronounce these words correctly by moving your lips, opening your throat, dropping your jaw and thus ensuring the sound is correct. This will particularly help with the long “ahh” – see above.
Want to practice Received Pronunciation with a Native English Teacher from the UK? Sign up below
Record yourself speaking and listen to your recording and see how you can improve.
Practice as many days during the week as possible. Practice at any time of the day whenever you have a few minutes spare. Even using an app on your mobile phone can help with practise.
Find someone else who also wants to practise speaking English and you can learn together, practising speaking correct pronunciation and correct each other. This could be extended to practising in a large group whereby all of you have the same goal of improving your pronunciation. Perhaps have a debate on certain topics allowing everyone in a group to have his or her say.
Learn with an on-line tutor who will help improve your pronunciation especially with the longer words which need to be broken down into syllables before being put back together again to pronounce correctly.
Learn tongue twisters and practise saying them out loud. Start saying them slowly and then quicken up ensuring every word you say is total clear.
Received pronunciation is used as the standard for the English way of speaking in most books. Buy yourself a good dictionary which shows how to pronounce each new word you learn together with the meaning. The more you listen to spoken English the more you will understand received pronunciation and be able to practise it. There are many series including Downton Abbey, The Crown and Victoria and Albert which are great productions to both watch and listen to received pronunciation. Even now received pronunciation is very clear, slowly spoken and very easy to understand.
