This term paper aims to carve out the differences and similarities between the pronunciation of Received Pronunciation and General American by surveying Svartvik and Leech's quote: „...if we study the main standardized varieties of American English (AmE) and British English (BrE), we come to the conclusion that in pronunciation they are clearly different, but generally mutually intelligible“. (Svartvik & Leech, 2006:157).
A close analysis will reveal to which extent one can agree with their statement.
Firstly, general information about the two accents will be presented. Secondly, a comparison of RP and GA with regard to rhoticity, consonants, vowels, word stress and intonation examines phonological similarities and differences of both accents. A final conclusion sums up the findings with reference to the quote.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The reference accents
- Received Pronunciation
- General American
- Comparison
- Rhoticity
- Consonants
- Vowels
- Word stress
- Intonation
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This term paper aims to identify the differences and similarities between the pronunciation of Received Pronunciation and General American by analyzing Svartvik and Leech’s statement: “...if we study the main standardized varieties of American English (AmE) and British English (BrE), we come to the conclusion that in pronunciation they are clearly different, but generally mutually intelligible”.
- Characteristics of Received Pronunciation and General American
- Phonological differences in rhoticity, consonants, vowels, word stress, and intonation between RP and GA
- Examination of the extent to which RP and GA are mutually intelligible
- Analysis of the impact of these differences on communication between speakers of RP and GA
- Discussion of the historical and social factors that have contributed to the development of these differences
Chapter Summaries
- Introduction: This chapter provides a brief overview of the importance of English as a global language and highlights the challenges of its various accents. It introduces the focus of the term paper, which is to examine the differences and similarities between Received Pronunciation (RP) and General American (GA).
- The reference accents: This chapter presents general information about RP and GA, including their origins, social contexts, and regional variations. It discusses the concept of 'standard accents' and their relevance in communication.
- Comparison: This chapter delves into a detailed comparison of RP and GA, focusing on phonological differences in rhoticity, consonants, vowels, word stress, and intonation. It presents examples and provides insights into the phonetic realization of these differences.
Keywords
The key focus of this term paper is the comparison of Received Pronunciation and General American. The main concepts explored are rhoticity, consonant and vowel pronunciation, word stress, and intonation. The analysis aims to provide insights into the nature of these differences and their implications for the intelligibility of these two accents.
- Quote paper
- Funda Sengül (Author), 2015, Accent Variation. Received Versus General American Pronunciation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/309788
