Linguistic History:                  RP is usually associated with London, which functions as the hub of the British empire.

 

Geography:                             Includes Thames river, rolling countryside.

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Common occupations:         Business, trade. 

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Stereotypes:                           Upper class. Monarchy. Sometimes seen as snooty or reserved.  

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Images:                                    In order to best accommodate the resonance for this dialect, make sure the soft palate is lifted and                                                     you are breathing from your diaphragm. Imagine that there is a balloon inside your head. Whenever                                                   you inhale, air enters through your lips and the balloon in your mouth grows in size, lifting your soft                                                   palate and creating more openness in your sound.

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Dialect qualities:                    Openness (lifted soft palette on vowels)

                                                  Clipped vowels

                                                  Diction (crisp t's and d's)

                                                  Dropped the final "r" and the "r" before another consonant

 

Helpful hints:                          When speaking, keep your mouth slightly more closed than in American English. It's like the corners                                                   of your mouth are a ziplock bag that is being closed from the outside corners inward.

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                                                  Use the British short "o" for words such as hot, not, got.

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                                                  Been rhymes with bean in this dialect, as opposed to bin. 

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                                                  The default/hook vowel for British Standard is Ah (as in "avacado")

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Practice sentences:             The firemen at work saw the fire first near the far door.

                                               Barbara was very barbaric, very, very barbaric indeed.

                                               Secretary of State for the Home Department.

                                               I know I don't know how to get over to the road.

                                               I made a great deal of progress in my rehearsal process.

                                               Oh, I say!

                                               You idiot! How dare you?!

                                               Would you care for some tea?

                                               Were you going there today, if I may ask?

                                               It was an extremely good plan.

                                               Unfortunately, it's not quite the right shade of blue. 

                                               Very well, but don't be too long about it. We haven't got all day, you know. 

                                               Yes, yes, get on with it. We know all about that. 

                                               I most respectfully submit to your Lordships that twenty years is much too long.

                                               Do you think so?

                                               I wish to say that you have performed an invaluable service for the crown.