What is Received Pronunciation?
Received Pronunciation, or RP, is an accent of English traditionally associated with educated speakers in southern England. Often called the Queen's English or BBC English, it was long considered the standard accent of British English.
RP developed in the 1800s, linked to public schools, universities such as Oxford and Cambridge, and the upper classes. The term was popularized by linguist Daniel Jones in the early 1900s.
For many years, BBC presenters were expected to use RP, which made it widely known across the country and around the world.
RP today
Only a small percentage of people in Britain speak with a traditional RP accent. Many people speak with regional accents, and the BBC now features presenters with accents from across the UK.
Modern RP has changed over time, becoming less formal. Very old-fashioned RP, sometimes called posh or upper RP, is heard in old films and royal broadcasts.
RP is often used as a model for teaching English as a foreign language. Dictionaries often show RP pronunciations.
Linguists say RP is not better or more correct than other accents, but it has been associated with social status and authority.