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Dialect Guide - British Isles

What is RP? (Received Pronunciation)

Received Pronunciation, or RP for short, is the instantly recognisable accent often described as ‘typically British’. RP is an accent, not a dialect, since all RP speakers speak Standard English. In other words, they avoid non-standard grammatical constructions and localised vocabulary characteristic of regional dialects. RP is also regionally non-specific, that is it does not contain any clues about a speaker’s geographic background. But it does reveal a great deal about their social and/or educational background.

-from the British Library website definition

RP or Standard English Dialect Audio Resources

The following link will take you to a sound clip for the Received Pronunciation dialect from the IDEA International Dialects of English Archive website. The participant you will be listening to is a: "white, male professor from Salisbury, Wiltshire.'"

Video Example of Standard English Dialect

In this clip the renowned English actor Jeremy Irons is being interviewed. Irons is an excellent example of a Standard English speaker.

RP or Standard English Dialect Video Resources

Below are links to several clips featuring RP or the Standard English dialect.

Need a Play?

Here are some plays with English characters.

RP or Standard English Dialect Library Resources

The following films and texts are available at Point Park University Library and provide valuable resources for students learning Received Pronunciation or the Standard English Dialect.