adapting accent and dialect

what is standard english (se)

the most correct form of english dialect (grammar and lexis) in the country

what is received pronunciation (rp)

the most correct form of accent in the country and is the standard form of british pronunciation

• the only accent not associated with region, but class

• historically has the most prestige

• came into existence in 1800s society when people were overly concerned with reputation

social mobility and RP

• social mobility- moving classes (usually upward)

• RP became unpopular for around 50 years. as social classes relaxed in the mid 1900s, so did its popularity but has supposedly resurfaced due to social mobility

what is prestige

being valued in society

• overt- widely recognised as the culturally dominant group

• covert- shows membership to a certain exclusive group rather than fitting societal norms