Received Pronunciation (RP) is often referred to as Queen’s English or BBC English. It is scarcely heard in cities and towns of Britain and yet it is the accent most foreign language students consider to be true British English. Yes, the Queen spoke this way but the truth is few Brits speak like this. This is good news for foreign language students. You don’t need to sound like the Queen to be understood.
For foreign language students wishing to learn British English there are many different native English dialects and accents to listen to and learn from. The key is to listen to a variety of sources and increase your vocabulary. By doing this you may not sound like the Queen but you will sound more like a native English speaker.
A good English teacher will help increase your vocabulary by teaching colloquial English, phrasal verbs and idioms, seldom used by second language learners. Your tutor will choose video and audio files from a variety of English speaking accents and dialects for your lessons. These will be used to set vocabulary and comprehension exercises to help improve your listening skills and expand your vocabulary.
However, it is useful to listen to as much spoken English as possible whenever you have spare time. RP is often easier for foreign language students to understand and can be a good starting point. I have compiled a short list of some examples of received pronunciation (RP) English in use:
IDEA RP Audio – Comma Gets a Cure
The IDEA (International Dialects of English Archive) is a wonderful website with a variety of different dialects. This particular page includes four audio files with four different speakers. All recordings are made by trained speech teachers who teach RP for the stage. The speakers all read the same script and the audio files are just over 2 minutes. Listen to all four and see how much you understand.
Downton Abbey
This was a popular period drama in the UK. There were a total of six television series, some Christmas specials and two films. The series follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family. There is plenty of RP. Test out your listening comprehension by viewing a few from the selection of shorts on the Downtown YouTube channel. Copy what the actors say to aid your pronunciation.
Sense and Sensibility
This is the film version of the Jane Austen novel of the same name. The film includes a wonderful British cast including Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman and Greg Wise. It follows the story of the Dashwood family following the death of Mr Dashwood. This film focuses on the British upper class and primarily features British RP.
The King’s Speech
This film is a historical drama based on the true story of King George VI and his struggle with a stammer. Colin Firth stars as King George VI and Helena Bonham Carter stars as his wife. He becomes the King when his brother King Edward VIII abdicates from the throne. A role he assumed would never be his. He seeks help from a speech therapist for his stutter. This clip is taken from his wartime radio broadcast to the people of Britain when war is declared on Germany in 1939. Listen and compare Colin Firth’s film speech with King George VI’s speech.