There are different sorts of accents in the English language in Great Britain. How come that one accent is seen as sweet, while the next one is “supposedly horrible”? This term paper will examine the developments of using the „right“ and the „wrong“ accents and show the importance of social esteem through accents. The aim is not to examine the whole variety of accents and dialects in Great Britain, as this task would be too broad. Thus, a representative variety was chosen and will be examined here.
Table of Contents
- 1 The Importance of Accents and Dialects
- 2 Received Pronunciation: An Esteemed Accent
- 3 The "Horrible Ones"
- 4 Cockney - Invasion of an Accent
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines the historical development of accent perception in Great Britain, focusing on how different accents have been associated with social class and status. It aims to show the importance of social esteem as it relates to accent, demonstrating how accents have been used to judge and categorize individuals. The paper focuses specifically on England, recognizing the distinct linguistic history of Scotland.
- The social significance of accents and dialects in shaping perceptions of class and social standing.
- The historical development of attitudes towards different accents in Great Britain, particularly the rise of Received Pronunciation (RP) as a prestigious accent.
- The role of accents in social mobility and the consequences of speaking with a "non-standard" accent.
- The impact of media and influential figures on accent trends and perceptions.
- The continuing relevance of accent in modern British society.
Chapter Summaries
1 The Importance of Accents and Dialects: This chapter establishes the central theme of the paper: the significant role of accents and dialects in social perception. It highlights how accents and dialects act as immediate indicators of social background and class, influencing how individuals are judged and perceived. The chapter draws upon historical sources, including linguistic etiquette manuals from the 19th century, which reveal the anxieties surrounding accent and its impact on social advancement. Examples are given of how specific accents, even subtle phonetic differences, were used to mark individuals as belonging to specific social strata, highlighting the deeply ingrained nature of these societal judgements. The chapter also introduces the distinction between accent and dialect, and lays the groundwork for subsequent chapters that examine specific accents and their associated social meanings.
2 Received Pronunciation: An esteemed accent: This chapter focuses on Received Pronunciation (RP), the most prestigious accent in England. It traces the historical development of RP, highlighting its origins in public schools and its association with the upper class. The chapter notes that while RP is often seen as the "educated" accent, it is actually only spoken by a small percentage of the population, with many people speaking a modified form. It differentiates between various forms of RP (Conservative, General, and Advanced) and contextualizes its perceived prestige within the larger sociolinguistic landscape of England, contrasting it with the situation in Scotland where RP holds less weight. This chapter establishes the context for understanding why certain accents are deemed "superior" and the implications of such social stratification through speech.
3 The "Horrible Ones": This chapter (although its full content isn't provided in the excerpt) would likely analyze the social perceptions of accents considered less prestigious than RP. It would explore the negative stereotypes associated with these accents and discuss how they reinforce social inequalities. This section would likely provide examples of how speakers of these accents face discrimination and how these perceptions impact their opportunities. The chapter likely discusses the social mechanisms that perpetuate the stigma associated with certain accents, building on the groundwork laid in the previous chapters regarding social perceptions and the implications of linguistic variation.
Keywords
Accents, Dialects, Received Pronunciation (RP), Social Class, Linguistic Prejudice, Sociolinguistics, Great Britain, England, Social Mobility, Language and Identity, Standard English.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this academic paper?
The paper examines the historical development of accent perception in Great Britain, focusing on how different accents have been associated with social class and status. It explores the social significance of accents and dialects, the historical development of attitudes towards various accents (especially Received Pronunciation), and the impact of accents on social mobility and opportunities.
What accents are discussed in the paper?
The paper focuses primarily on Received Pronunciation (RP) as a prestigious accent, contrasting it with other, less prestigious accents referred to as "The Horrible Ones". It also specifically mentions Cockney as a case study. The paper acknowledges the distinct linguistic history of Scotland and differentiates its accent landscape from that of England.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the social significance of accents in shaping perceptions of class, the historical development of attitudes towards accents, the role of accents in social mobility, the impact of media on accent trends, and the continuing relevance of accent in modern British society. The paper highlights linguistic prejudice and its consequences.
What is Received Pronunciation (RP), and what is its significance?
Received Pronunciation (RP) is the most prestigious accent in England. The paper traces its historical development, its origins in public schools and its association with the upper class. While often considered the "educated" accent, it is spoken by a small percentage of the population. The paper differentiates between various forms of RP (Conservative, General, and Advanced).
What is the significance of the chapter titled "The Horrible Ones"?
This chapter (though its full content is not provided) analyzes the social perceptions of accents considered less prestigious than RP. It likely explores negative stereotypes, discrimination faced by speakers of these accents, and how these perceptions impact their opportunities. It examines the social mechanisms that perpetuate the stigma associated with certain accents.
What historical sources does the paper utilize?
The paper draws upon historical sources, including linguistic etiquette manuals from the 19th century, to reveal anxieties surrounding accent and its impact on social advancement. These sources demonstrate how specific accents were used to mark individuals as belonging to specific social strata.
What are the objectives of the paper?
The paper aims to show the importance of social esteem as it relates to accent, demonstrating how accents have been used to judge and categorize individuals. It highlights how accents and dialects act as immediate indicators of social background and class, influencing how individuals are perceived.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Key words include: Accents, Dialects, Received Pronunciation (RP), Social Class, Linguistic Prejudice, Sociolinguistics, Great Britain, England, Social Mobility, Language and Identity, Standard English.
What is the overall approach of the paper?
The paper takes a sociolinguistic approach, examining the relationship between language, social class, and identity in Great Britain. It uses historical analysis and examples to support its arguments.
Where can I find more information about this paper?
The provided text is a preview containing the table of contents, objectives, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. More detailed information would be found in the full paper itself.
- Quote paper
- Svenja Strohmeier (Author), 2012, Talking "Proper", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/188453
