How to Learn Received Pronunciation

Last Updated: March 29, 2019 References Approved

Received Pronunciation English, or RP, is the standard form of British English. Sometimes this accent is referred to as the “Queen’s English,” “Oxford English,” or “BBC English.” In reality, the Queen’s accent is distinctive, and British institutions such as Oxford and the BBC are now home to a wealth of regional dialects. Nonetheless, RP is considered the “posh” English of the British upper classes. More importantly, RP is regionally non-specific, avoiding the non-standard grammar and local vocabulary associated with regional dialects. Learning RP English will ensure you’re easily understood by any English speaker.^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Understanding the Characteristics of Received Pronunciation English

1
Learn the 44 sounds of the English language. While there are 26 letters in written English, spoken English incorporates 44 distinct sounds. Learn the characters that represent each of these sounds. Then you will be able to write words phonetically, and study dictionaries that use these characters to “write out” the pronunciation of each word.^{[2]
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- RP English is the accent upon which phonemic transcriptions (the characters representing sounds) are based, so you’ll be at an advantage learning RP English over another form of spoken English – the characters will “spell out” the pronunciation of words in the way you’re trying to learn them.^{[3]
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2
Recognize how your native language differs from RP English. Identify sounds or stress and intonation patterns that differ between your native language and RP English. Understanding these differences will show you which elements of RP you most need to work on. Learning some words will be a simple matter of adding vocabulary, while in other cases you’ll have to re-learn how to pronounce a specific sound, letter, or syllable.^{[4]
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3
Identify key characteristics. While much can be said about RP English, its most distinctive characteristics are clipped consonants and elongated vowels. The clipped consonants, in particular, are what give it the nickname “cut-glass.” Recognizing these basic traits will help you quickly distinguish RP English from regional accents or the increasingly prominent “Estuary English” once associated with southeastern Britain’s working class.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Practicing Received Pronunciation on Your Own

1
Listen to RP English. The more you hear English spoken in this accent, the more natural it will feel to reproduce it.^{[6]
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Research source} While RP English is no longer the “standard” it once was, listening to recent speeches by the Queen or to BBC news broadcasts may offer useful examples. Try looking for RP English in:
- British society dramas such as “Downton Abbey” (the “upstairs” characters).
- Speeches by members of the royal family; the Duchess of Cambridge is especially noted for her “cut-glass” accent.
- Historical broadcasts (recognize, however, that these may use archaic terms).
2
Use long vowels. Words such as “bath,” “grass,” and “dance” that are pronounced using a short “a” sound in American English and many other English accents are pronounced using long “ahhs” in RP. “Bath,” then, will rhyme with “father,” and “dance” with “palm” – “a” in each case is pronounced “ahh.”^{[8]
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3
Purse your lips, open your throat, and drop your jaw. You’ll produce those long “ahhs” and many other sounds common to RP English by moving your jaw down rather than opening your mouth sideways. Generally speaking, the less lip movement, the better.^{[9]
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Enunciate clearly. Enunciation is just as important to accent as pronunciation, and RP English speakers are sticklers for enunciating consonants. Most English speakers omit one or more consonants in many words – “February,” for example, becomes “Feb-u-ar-y.” For an RP English speaker, it’s “Feb-ru-ar-y.” When in doubt, precisely articulate each consonant.^{[10]
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- Make space around your “r”s. Most English speakers roll words ending in “r” into the next word” – i.e. “Mother and daughter.” RP English speakers fully articulate the “r” so the sound at the beginning of the next word stands alone – “Mother and daughter.”^{[11]
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- Words ending in “y” are pronounced with an “eh” instead of an “ee.” Many English speakers would pronounce “finally” as “final-ee.” An RP English speaker would say “final-eh,” closing his or her mouth at the end of the word.^{[12]
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Pay careful attention to intonation. Watch where RP English speakers’ voices rise and fall. One of the most common signs of a non-native language speaker is a failure to intone words correctly. Learning this skill will significantly improve the quality of your accent.^{[13]
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Heed stress marks. Review phonetic spellings in the dictionary and note where accent marks are placed. Stress these syllables when speaking the word. Much like intonation, this will significantly improve the authenticity of your accent.^{[14]
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Record yourself speaking RP English. Hearing yourself speaking will help you determine where your accent needs work – and where you’re doing really well!
8
Practice often. If you want RP English to become natural, expect to spend many hours perfecting your accent. Take advantage of brief openings in your day to get in a few minutes of practice.^{[15]
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- Consider downloading an app for your phone that will provide you with games, quizzes, and brief practice sessions to utilize on your daily commute or while waiting in line.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Practicing Received Pronunciation with Other People

1
Seek conversation partners. Find a friend who is also interested in learning RP English and practice with him or her. In addition to engaging in conversation, you and your partner can spend time critiquing each other’s accents. An extra pair of ears will help you recognize where your accent needs work and provide encouragement as your RP English improves.^{[16]
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Find a conversation group. Your local community organization or university may offer conversation groups for English language learners. There are few substitutes for actually using language skills. Regular conversation with a variety of speakers will accustom you to hearing RP English spoken in different voices. Interacting with others keeps you on your toes and helps you apply your new accent in real-world situations.
3
Register for an interactive online program. Many online English language-learning resources offer opportunities to interact with RP English speakers. Some of these resources are free, while others require a subscription. Look for sites such as English Central, which allows you to upload videos of yourself speaking and then receive pronunciation feedback, or RhinoSpike, which allows you to request recordings by native speakers of texts you submit to the site.^{[17]
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Community Q&A

Question

Can I do this as a native English speaker who wants to learn a different accent?

Community Answer

Yes, some actors had very regional accents, but have re-trained with received pronunciation.