Received Pronunciation (Noun)
Meaning
The approved pronunciation of British English; originally based on the King's English as spoken at public schools and at Oxford and Cambridge Universities (and widely accepted elsewhere in Britain); until recently it was the pronunciation of English used in British broadcasting.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The news anchor's Received Pronunciation was so precise that it was almost a parody of itself.
- She had worked hard to lose her regional accent and adopt the Received Pronunciation of the British upper class.
- The BBC traditionally required its announcers to use Received Pronunciation, but in recent years the policy has been relaxed.
- The Received Pronunciation of English is often considered the most prestigious and widely understood accent in the UK.
- The elocution teacher specialized in helping foreign students master the Received Pronunciation of British English.