J. YUSKAUSKAS, DIALECT COACH
ACCENT BREAKDOWN for
Received Pronunciation (RP) or
Standard British
The Accent: RP is perceived as the accent of power and prestige in
England and, to a lesser extent, throughout Great Britain (save Northern
Ireland). It is believed to be a non-regional accent, though its historical
origins and current roots are centered in the south of England. It is the
native sound of many familiar British actors including Hugh Grant, Helena
Bonham-Carter, Jeremy Irons, Helen Mirren, Kristen Scott-Thomas, and
Emma Thompson… as well as the acquired accent of many British actors.
RP is (one of) the most exhaustively documented accents in English.
What does it sound like? (Rhythm and Tune)
Native RP Speakers tend to use a wide pitch range, going up and down
for emphasis, with occasional vowel elongation as an additional stressing
device. Conversely, Americans tend to use changes in volume and
rhythm to emphasize, i.e. lengthening the vowel in “come on.” RP tends
to expresses itself in consonants, rather than vowels, using crisp diction to
make a point.
RP speakers rarely stress qualifying words (not, so, really) or personal
pronouns. An RP speaker would only rarely stress “I.”
Words can be stressed in different places than the American versions:
Laboratory Garage Harass
(There are a variety of “special pronunciations” from Am. Eng. to RP)
How is it made? (Placement, points of focus)
The greatest difference in the speech musculature between RP and
American English Speakers is the use of the lips and tongue. American
Speakers tend to use the middle of the tongue and mouth much more.
The RP Speaker focuses on the front of the mouth and lips.
RP is placed far more forward in the mouth and exhibits a marked degree
of lip rounding, which is what helps to bring the sound forward in the vocal
tract. The tongue is habitually lower and more forward in the mouth. The
jaw is also quite released. While the jaw need remain relaxed (but ready)
the focus and engagement must remain with energized lips and cheeks
at the front of the mouth. RP can be very open, resonant, and forward
which makes it easy to understand in the theatre.
J. YUSKAUSKAS, DIALECT COACH
The Vowels:
Generally, due to the placement of the accent, RP vowels tend to be
more forward in the mouth than their American cousins.
AH (
) as in “spa” and “father” – the “broad A” sound
This will play a great part in the nasal Ah (as in “hat”) and
and the jaw aimed Ah (as in “pass”) substitutions called for on
the “Ask List.”
This is a wide, open, round, BACK MOUTH vowel.
UH (
) as in “hut” and “one” – shorter and more open than in American.
But Come Mother Cup
Forward sound aimed at the gum ridge.
O (
) as in “hot” and “bother” – Very recognizable British sound (aka
“British Short O”) and is one that does not commonly occur in
American speech. Very similar to the “broad A” but rounder
and more forward in the mouth. VERY SHORT SOUND. You
are already anticipating, thinking ahead to the consonant
sound that follows.
AW (
) as in “law” and “bought” – Some Americans pronounce these
words with the “broad A” like “father.” Be sure to ROUND the
sound and place it FORWARD. You should feel the lips
stretching forward (as in a “fish face”) with engagement in
the cheeks. It is a LONGER sound than the vowel many
Americans tend to use. Practice/Example Words:
Saw More Daughter Bought Walking Saucy
OO (
) as in “tune” and “new” – Rounder and more forward. RP adds a
“yuh” sound before this sound occasionally (creating the
“liquid U,”
).
Practice/Example Words:
Dew Tuesday Dune Beautiful News Blue
OH (
) as in “snow.” This DIPHTHONG has a central starting point and
involves more lip rounding on the second sound. This very
important sound in RP is easily created by making a
triphthong, adding a schwa to the primary position (
)
or adding the UH ( ) as in cup (
).
Practice/Example Words:
Cold Overgrown Moan Groceries
J. YUSKAUSKAS, DIALECT COACH
A (
EE (
or
) as in “apple,” “dance,” “ask.” In some words these
vowels remain the same (however we tend toward the
latter, lower, less nasal sound) and stay short: apple,
cab, flannel, man, battle.
HOWEVER, sometimes the vowel shifts to the “broad A”
( ) sound. Why? When? Consult the ASK LIST!
) becomes ( ) in the final position of words ending in y, ly, or lly. It
is a short and central sound.
Cherry Weary Marry Rarely Fairly
Consonants
R (
) The pronunciation of a firm R wherever it occurs in the spelling of a
word became less prominent during the period of 1600-1750 in
Southern English speech. In attempting RP many Americans give
themselves away by indiscriminately dropping all the “R’s” or not
dropping enough. The drop/weakening pattern of R is the same as
in NYC, Boston, and some Southern American Accents. Once
learned, this rule can contribute greatly to an authentic sound.
Accents of English which pronounce all written R’s are considered
rhotic, those which do not are called non-rhotic. Therefore, RP is
non-rhotic and Standard American is rhotic.
Rules for the Non-Rhotic accents:
PRONOUNCED/SOUNDED R
-Primary (first) sound of a word (red)
-Sound preceding a vowel sound (tree)
-Sound following a consonant sound (grow)
UNPRONOUNCED/UNSOUNDED/SOFTENED R
-Terminal (final) sound of a word (ever)
-Sound preceding a consonant sound (hurt)
LINKING R
-If an R is in the final position of a word and the following word
begins with a vowel sound (and is part of the same thought)
the words are linked with the R sounded and attached to the
vowel sound of the following word. (here and there)
T is a sound which is almost always fully realized when in the terminal
position or between vowels, and given a slightly aspirated quality.
Later batter heart right Spartan Britain
L is sounded (when in the primary or medial position) as a “light L.” The tip
J. YUSKAUSKAS, DIALECT COACH
of the tongue quickly taps the gum ridge and releases. When an L
sound comes before a consonant sound or silence it becomes a
longer, held “dark L.”
lily lavender lime limitless wall doll arsenal
TERMINAL/FINAL SOUNDS
The English tend to finish words in a stronger manner than Americans.
Final D and T sounds should be sounded.
Also, RP speakers will tend to condense a suffix like ary, ery, aly, ory to one
syllable, with a slightly clipped feel:
Literally Library Stationary
SPECIAL PRONUNCIATIONS
Schedule
Laboratory
Privacy
Process
Issue/Tissue
Nephew
Patriot
Patent
Clerk
Hostile
Derby
MARKED or HEIGHTENED RP:
The speech of the most elite, upper classes. Sometimes referred to at URP.
This more specific form of RP is acceptable for usage through 1950
(however, it has gained popularity with a younger set of ultra wealthy who
live in and around the area of Sloane Square).
URP is marked, in placement, by the classic “stiff upper lip.” It is a far more
controlled speech than modern RP. The jaw does not open as widely and
the tongue lives closer to the roof of the mouth. The tongue must work
much harder in this oral position.
Generally, in URP, the vowels are shorter and the consonants VERY crisp,
offering a “clipped” feeling to the sound.
The OH diphthong (triphthong) may change slightly with the more forward
primary sound of EH, (
).
J. YUSKAUSKAS, DIALECT COACH
The A (
), as in hat, moves towards toward the EH sound.
Capital, Hat, Bat, Harry
Words with “y” endings ( ) in American, ( ) in RP, move to a more pure
IH ( ) sound, a much shorter ending.
Terminal R diphthongs tend to a more open sound, near the “Broad A.”
The R can sometimes be “tapped” when it is found between vowels. This
sound is most often attributed to Noel Coward.
Very, Carry, Sherry, Worry
The WH may become aspirated or ( ). Think Stewie from “Family Guy”
and his pronunciation of “cool whip.”
Where, When, What, Why
Be very careful with this, as on the contemporary American ear, this
sound tends to be received and/or used as comedic.
Excellent source material for the URP are Noel Coward films of the 1930’s
and the David Suchet “Poirot” series. Keep in mind that Mr. Suchet does
NOT use RP or URP, but is surrounded by many gifted actors who do!
Again, please visit “Downton Abbey” for more work on RP (and URP). The
Crowley family use language beautifully, and of course Maggie Smith is a
joy.
In the film “The King’s Speech” Helena Bonham-Carter and Claire Bloom
present a glorious RP peppered with URP, very pleasing and educational.
Another lovely example of RP (and URP) is the short-lived BBC series
“Mapp and Lucia” which offers brilliant examples of accent work by
Geraldine McEwan and Nigel Hawthorne… and also some brilliant
character acting work.
Also, clear and serviceable RP is found in “The Adventures of Tintin” from
2011 in Jamie Bell’s Tintin and Daniel Craig’s villain Sakharine.