Received Pronunciation
RP: a Social Accent of English
Received Pronunciation, or RP for short, is the instantly recognizable accent often described as typically British. Popular terms for this accent, such as The Queens English, Oxford English or BBC English are all a little misleading. The Queen, for instance, speaks an almost unique form of English, while the English we hear at Oxford University or on the BBC is no longer restricted to one type of accent. RP is an accent, not a dialect, since all RP speakers speak Standard English. In other words, they avoid non-standard grammatical constructions and localized vocabulary characteristic of regional dialects. RP is also regionally non-specific, that is it does not contain any clues about a speakers geographic background. But it does reveal a great deal about their social and/or educational background.
Well-known but not widely used
RP is probably the most widely studied and most frequently described variety of spoken English in the world, yet recent estimates suggest only 2% of the UK population speak it. It has a negligible presence in Scotland and Northern Ireland and is arguably losing its prestige status in Wales. It should properly, therefore, be described as English, rather than a British accent. As well as being a living accent, RP is also a theoretical linguistic concept. It is the accent on which phonemic transcriptions in dictionaries are based, and it is widely used (in competition with General American) for teaching English as a foreign language. RP is included here as a case study, not to imply it has greater merit than any other English accent, but because it provides us with an extremely familiar model against which comparisons with other accents may be made.
Whats in the name?
RP is a young accent in linguistic terms. It was not around, for example, when Dr Johnson wrote A Dictionary of the English Language in 1757. He chose not to include pronunciation suggestions as he felt there was little agreement even within educated society regarding recommended forms. The phrase Received Pronunciation was coined in 1869 by the linguist, A J Ellis, but it only became a widely used term used to describe the accent of the social elite after the phonetician, Daniel Jones, adopted it for the second edition of the English Pronouncing Dictionary (1924). The definition of received conveys its original meaning of accepted or approved - as in received wisdom. We can trace the origins of RP back to the public schools and universities of nineteenth-century Britain - indeed Daniel Jones initially used the term Public School Pronunciation to describe this emerging, socially exclusive accent. Over the course of that century, members of the ruling and privileged classes increasingly attended boarding schools such as Winchester, Eton, Harrow and Rugby and graduated from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Their speech patterns - based loosely on the local accent of the south-east Midlands (roughly London, Oxford and Cambridge) - soon came to be associated with The Establishment and therefore gained a unique status, particularly within the middle classes in London.
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Broadcasters choice
RP probably received its greatest impetus, however, when Lord Reith, the first General Manager of the BBC, adopted it in 1922 as a broadcasting standard - hence the origins of the term BBC English. Reith believed Standard English, spoken with an RP accent, would be the most widely understood variety of English, both here in the UK and overseas. He was also conscious that choosing a regional accent might run the risk of alienating some listeners. To a certain extent Reiths decision was understandable, and his attitude only reflected the social climate at the time. But since RP was the preserve of the aristocracy and expensive public schools, it represented only a very small social minority. This policy prevailed at the BBC for a considerable time and probably contributed to the sometimes negative perception of regional varieties of English.
Theres more than one RP
A speaker who uses numerous very localized pronunciations is often described as having a broad or strong regional accent, while terms such as mild or soft are applied to speakers whose speech patterns are only subtly different from RP speakers. So, we might describe one speaker as having a broad Glaswegian accent and another as having a mild Scottish accent. Such terms are inadequate when applied to Received Pronunciation, although as with any variety of English, RP encompasses a wide variety of speakers and should not be confused with the notion of posh speech. The various forms of RP can be roughly divided into three categories. Conservative RP refers to a very traditional variety particularly associated with older speakers and the aristocracy. Mainstream RP describes an accent that we might consider extremely neutral in terms of signals regarding age, occupation or lifestyle of the speaker. Contemporary RP refers to speakers using features typical of younger RP speakers. All, however, are united by the fact they do not use any pronunciation patterns that allow us to make assumptions about where they are from in the UK
RP today
Like any other accent, RP has also changed over the course of time. The voices we associate with early BBC broadcasts, for instance, now sound extremely old-fashioned to most. Just as RP is constantly evolving, so our attitudes towards the accent are changing. For much of the twentieth century, RP represented the voice of education, authority, social status and economic power. The period immediately after the Second World War was a time when educational and social advancement suddenly became a possibility for many more people. Those who were able to take advantage of these opportunities - be it in terms of education or career - often felt under considerable pressure to conform linguistically and thus adopt the accent of the establishment or at least modify their speech towards RP norms. In recent years, however, as a result of continued social change, virtually every accent is represented in all walks of life to which people aspire sport, the arts, the media, business, even former strongholds of RP England, such as the City, Civil Service and academia. As a result, fewer younger speakers with regional accents consider it necessary to adapt their speech to the same extent. Indeed many commentators even suggest that younger RP speakers often go to great lengths to disguise their middle-class accent by incorporating regional features into their speech.
Pronunciation as a Major Component of Language Learning
Pronunciation is more than saying words correctly. Near native pronunciation also aids in aural comprehension, reading, writing, and grammar. Listen carefully to the language you want to learn. At first it seems to be a jumble of unpronounceable and incomprehensible sounds. Words all blend into each other and sentences seem to be an endless stream of noise. Soon you will pick out repeated sounds that you recognize as words. The rising and falling of the voice will indicate sentence structures. You won't be able to understand them until you can attach meaning to the words. Listen for repetitions, but also listen for patterns and stresses. Listen Then Try it out Try out the sounds you hear. Have you heard those sounds before? Maybe they have some familiarity because you have heard speakers of other languages use them incorrectly in English. Mispronunciation is the most noticeable feature of a foreign language. The sounds that are incorrect in English are the very ones you need to learn in order to pronounce your target language correctly. Try imitating the foreign accent, then see if you can pronounce the vocabulary you are trying to learn using these same "foreign" sounds. Have fun with it, but be sure not to offend whoever is helping you learn the language. He may feel as insecure with English as you are with his. Why is Pronunciation Important? Foreign accents may be romantic. Sometimes they're funny. Because mispronunciations make comprehension difficult, advertisers love them. We need to listen carefully to get every word. So what's the matter with having an accent when we speak other languages? Not all cultures appreciate their language being corrupted with mispronunciations. Some people take it as laziness on the part of the learner not to take appropriate care to show respect for the language. They are offended, and will sometimes pretend not to understand when the words are not said properly. Or, maybe they genuinely do not understand. Whether or not you share this attitude, the fact is that cultures differ in what they find romantic or humorous. How Does Correct Pronunciation Help with Listening and Reading Comprehension? Sometimes we see a word, and sound it out using the pronunciation rules we know, and come up with something totally unlike anything a native speaker would say. A Spanish student once astonished his English teacher with the complaint that he was having trouble with his bowels. It took a moment, but then she realized that in Spanish, "V" in the initial position is pronounced "B." She said, "You are also having trouble with your consonants!" She
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gave him a dictionary to show him what he had actually said. Had an English speaker told a Spanish speaker she was having trouble with her vowels, her friend might have reasonably been concerned for her health. Similarly, if you are offered "tong" in a Cantonese restaurant, you had better have a good grasp of the nine tones of voice used in that language if you want to know whether the waiter is suggesting sugar or soup. It is easy to see how oral error and aural misunderstanding might lead to difficulties with spelling, and by extension, reading comprehension, too. As one Russian speaker put it, "English spelling was devised to catch spies." His premise was that "if that's how you spell it, then that's not how you say it, and vice versa." Consider the English place names "Thames" and "Gloucester." They are illogically pronounced "Temz" and "Gloster." How is the learner of English to know that from spelling alone? Words are basic components of language, but basic to words is their pronunciation. Reading and spelling are merely visual representations of spoken words.
How Does Mispronunciation Interfere with Grammar?
Read or read? Is that past or present tense? Sometimes context helps, but not everything is in context. Lead or led? Spelling might help. But not everything is written out for us. Spanish speakers from some Latin American countries might leave off a final "S." The final "S" is important in English the difference between singular and plural, or possessive. Chinese speakers often add an "S" onto a word, resulting in the same sort of confusion in meaning caused by Spanish speakers. How to Learn Pronunciation Listening is the best place to start. Having a native speaker of your target language there to model and correct you is ideal. Other aids are recordings, of course. Use songs or poetry or stories, even if they are children's stories. Recorded lessons can help, too, and online courses that have an audio component. Surprisingly, even books can help. Some textbooks have diagrams of how the lips and tongue should be positioned to make the sounds of the language. Introductory pages of dictionaries frequently instruct the user on how they use phonetic alphabets or phonemic symbols to assist the learner to arrive at intelligible pronunciation. Use all the aids you can find. It doesn't matter how well your grammar or how great your vocabulary, if no one can understand your pronunciation. Learning Naturally As a child, you listened first and then experimented with making the sounds you heard. Learning all other languages is best approached by experimentation. It's only natural.
Essential Job Interview Tips and Tricks II
Last week I discussed some of the basics of interviewing for a job in English and specific job related vocabulary. This week I would like to focus on some of the common questions that are asked during the interview and appropriate responses to these questions. Interviewer: Tell me about yourself. Candidate: I was born and raised in Milan, Italy. I attended the University of Milan and received my master's degree in Economics. I have worked for 12 years as a financial consultant in Milan for various companies including Rossi Consultants, Quasar Insurance and Sardi and Sons. I enjoy playing tennis in my free time and learning languages. Candidate: I've just graduated from the University of Singapore with a degree in Computers. During the summers, I worked as a systems administrator for a small company to help pay for my education. Comment: This question is meant as an introduction. Do not focus too specifically on any one area. The above question will often be used to help the interviewer choose what h/she would like to ask next. While it is important to give an overall impression of who you are, make sure to concentrate on work related experience. Work related experience should always be the central focus of any interview (work experience is more important than education in most English speaking countries). Interviewer: What type of position are you looking for? Candidate: I'm interested in an entry level (beginning) position. Candidate: I'm looking for a position in which I can utilize my experience. Candidate: I would like any position for which I qualify. Comment: You should be willing to take an entry level position in an English speaking company as most of these companies expect non-nationals to begin with such a position. In the United States, most companies provide many opportunities for growth, so don't be afraid to start from the beginning! Interviewer: Are you interested in a full-time or part-time position? Candidate: I am more interested in a full-time position. However, I would also consider a part-time position. Comment: Make sure to leave open as many possibilities as possible. Say you are willing to take any job, once the job has been offered you can always refuse if the job does not appeal (not interest) to you. Interviewer: Can you tell me about your responsibilities at your last job? Candidate: I advised customers on financial matters. After I consulted the customer, I completed a customer inquiry form and catalogued the information in our database. I then collaborated with colleagues to prepare the best possible package for the client. The clients
were then presented with a summarized report on their financial activities that I formulated on a quarterly basis. Comment: Notice the amount of detail necessary when you are talking about your experience. One of the most common mistakes made by foreigners when discussing their former employment is to speak too generally. The employer wants to know exactly what you did and how you did it; the more detail you can give the more the interviewer knows that you understand the type of work. Remember to vary your vocabulary when talking about your responsibilities. Also, do not begin every sentence with "I". Use the passive voice, or an introductory clause to help you add variety to your presentation Interviewer: What is your greatest strength? Candidate: I work well under pressure. When there is a deadline (a time by which the work must be finished), I can focus on the task at hand (current project) and structure my work schedule well. I remember one week when I had to get 6 new customer reports out by Friday at 5. I finished all the reports ahead of time without having to work overtime. Candidate: I am an excellent communicator. People trust me and come to me for advice. One afternoon, my colleague was involved with a troublesome (difficult) customer who felt he was not being served well. I made the customer a cup of coffee and invited both my colleague and the client to my desk where we solved the problem together. Candidate: I am a trouble shooter. When there was a problem at my last job, the manager would always ask me to solve it. Last summer, the LAN server at work crashed. The manager was desperate and called me in (requested my help) to get the LAN back online. After taking a look at the daily backup, I detected the problem and the LAN was up and running (working) within the hour. Comment: This is not the time to be modest! Be confident and always give examples. Examples show that you are not only repeating words you have learned, but actually do possess that strength. Interviewer: What is your greatest weakness? Candidate: I am overzealous (work too hard) and become nervous when my co-workers are not pulling their weight (doing their job). However, I am aware of this problem, and before I say anything to anyone, I ask myself why the colleague is having difficulties. Candidate: I tend to spend too much time making sure the customer is satisfied. However, I began setting time-limits for myself If I noticed this happening. Comment: This is a difficult question. You need to mention a weakness that is actually strength. Make sure that you always mention how you try to improve the weakness. Interviewer: Why do you want to work for Smith and Sons? Candidate: After following your firms progress for the last 3 years, I am convinced that Smith and Sons are becoming one of the market leaders and I would like to be part of the team.
Candidate: I am impressed by the quality of your products. I am sure that I would be a convincing salesman because I truly believe that the Atomizer is the best product on the market today. Comment: Prepare yourself for this question by becoming informed about the company. The more detail you can give, the better you show the interviewer that you understand the company. Interviewer: When can you begin? Candidate: Immediately. Candidate: As soon as you would like me to begin. Comment: Show your willingness to work! The above questions represent some of the most basic questions asked on any job interview in English. Probably the most important aspect of interviewing in English is giving detail. As a speaker of English as a second language, you might be shy about saying complicated things. However, this is absolutely necessary as the employer is looking for an employee who knows his or her job. If you provide detail, the interviewer will know that you feel comfortable in that job. Don't worry about making mistakes in English. It is much better to make simple grammar mistakes and provide detailed information about your experience than to say grammatically perfect sentences without any real content. I hope these features help you to improve your job interviewing skills. Practice your replies often to these and other questions. Sit down with a friend and act out the interview. By repeating these phrases you will gain much needed confidence.
Expressing likes and dislikes in English
In this section, you will learn how to express what you like to do and what you dont like to do. Youre going to learn about the most common ways used to talk about likes and dislikes in English.
Learning to say Likes and Dislikes in English:
Learning the common English words/verbs to express or describe your likes and dislikes:
Likes: like / love / enjoy / prefer to . / be fond of / be interested in / be keen on / favorite / I like I love... I adore I m crazy about Im mad about I enjoy Im keen on
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Dislikes: dislike / hate / disgust / I dont like I dislike... I hate I abhor I cant bear... I cant stand I detest... I loathe...
Common questions: What kind of .. do you like? Whats your opinion of .? What do you think of.? Do you like ? Common responses: I like it. / I love that. / I hate it. / I really love (hate) it. / Its much better (worse) than. / Its one of the best (worst)..Ive ever seen. /
Practice describing likes and dislikes:
Conversation 1:
Bob: Well, What sports do you like, Mary? Mary: I love badminton. I always play badminton in my free time. And you? Bob: I enjoy watching football on TV. But I dont like playing it.
Conversation 2:
Kim: What does Pete like? Does he like beef? Joanna: Im not sure. I heard he really loves seafood. But I dont know if he likes beef. Kim: You know Im going to cook a meal for him when his parents are away. Joanna: Why dont you ask him directly? I think it is better. Kim: Well, I think so. Thanks.
Things to remember about likes and dislikes:
1. When these expressions are followed by a verb, the latter is put in the -ing form. Examples: "I like listening to music." "I hate wearing sunglasses."
I like I detest I don't mind 2. Note that" very much" & a lot" always come after the things you like. Examples: "I like basketball very much/a lot. NOT" I like very much/a lot basketball." 3. be careful when you use "I don't mind..." Examples: "Do you mind playing football?" "No, I don't mind."(Although it's in a negative form, it means that it's ok for me. I neither love it nor hate it.) VERB+ING