In this section you will hear a mini-lecture. You will hear the lecture ONCE
ONLY. While listening, take notes on the important points. Your notes will not
be marked, but you will need them to complete a gap-filling task after the
mini-lecture. When the lecture is over, you will be given two minutes to check
your notes, and another ten minutes to complete the gap-filling task on ANSWER
SHEET ONE. Use the blank sheet for note taking. Now listen to
the mini-lecture. ANSWER SHEET ONE Complete the gap-filling task. Some of the gaps below may require a
maximum of THREE words. Make sure the word(s) you fill in is (are) both
grammatically and semantically acceptable. You may refer to your
notes. Received Pronunciation (RP)
I. Definition 1. Some popular terms are a little
1 — The Queen’s
English — Oxford English — BBC
English 2. RP speakers avoid 2
grammatical constructions and localised vocabulary characteristic
of regional dialects. 3. RP reveals a great deal about
speakers’ 3 background.
II. Historical reasons RP was originally associated with
a dialect spoken in the region between central England and London, including
Oxford and Cambridge. Its survival was due to its use by
4 in the 14th century and by university
students in the Middle Ages. Its rise in importance resulted
from its application in government and official documents. The
prestige of its distinctive pattern of pronunciation came about with its use in
5 in the 19th century.
As a result, its pronunciation is accepted by television and the radio, the
professions and teaching English as 6 . III, Three characteristics of RP 1. Its
speakers don’t regard themselves as connected with any
7 ; 2. RP is largely used in
England; 3. RP is a "class" accent, associated with 8 social classes. IV. Its
present status 1. Reasons for decline in the prestige of
RP — loss of monopoly of education by the privileged
— 9 of high education in the
post-war period However, it still retains its eminence among
certain professional people. 2. There is a rise in the status
of all regional accents. 3. We are moving towards the 10 : general acceptance of all regional accents
and absence of a class accent that transcends all regions.