Received Pronunciation

English

Etymology

Commonly attributed to Alexander John Ellis[1] but already used earlier.[2][3]

Proper noun

Received Pronunciation

  1. The form of pronunciation of the English language traditionally spoken by the educated classes of the south-east of England, considered to be a standard (see received) and used as such in the pronunciation schemes of most British dictionaries. Abbreviation: RP
    Synonyms: BBC English, King's English, Queen's English, RP

Translations

References
  1. Alexander John Ellis (1869) On Early English Pronunciation, New York: Greenwood Press, published 1968, page 23:
    In the present day we may, however, recognize a received pronunciation all over the country, not widely differing in any particular locality, and admitting a certain degree of variety. It may be especially considered as the educated pronunciation of the metropolis, of the court, the pulpit, and the bar.
  2. “Rules to be obſerved by the Natives of Scotland for attaining a juſt Pronunciation of Engliſh.” in John Walker, A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary […] , London: Sold by G. G. J. and J. Robinſon, Paternoſter Row; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, 1791, →OCLC, page xiii: “
    For though the pronunciation of London is certainly erroneous in many words, […] it is undoubtedly the beſt; […] that is, not only the beſt by courteſy, and becauſe it happens to be the pronunciation of the capital, but the beſt by a better title; that of being more generally received: […] ”.
  3. Daniel Jones (1924) An English Pronouncing Dictionary, London: J.M. Dent, published 1944, page x:
    Nevertheless the fact remains that people in every important centre often have opportunities of hearing the above-mentioned pronunciation either from residents who have had a public school education, or through the constant intercommunication with London, or through the school teachers, or last, but not least, through broadcasting. For these reasons I think it probable that this form of speech is more widely understood with ease in Great Britain than any other form would be. In what follows I call it ‘Received Pronunciation’ (abbreviation RP), for want of a better term.

Further reading

Portuguese

Proper noun

Received Pronunciation f

  1. Received Pronunciation (English pronunciation used by the educated classes southeastern England)
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