Accent Goes to War and the Retreat of Conservative Received Pronunciation

• 作者: Damon R.Brewster
• 来源期刊: 语言与符号学研究
• 学科: 文学
• 关键词: DIALECT RECEIVED PRONUNCIATION English
• 年，卷（期）: 2016,（3）
• 页码范围: 73-81
• 页数: 9页
• 分类号: H

摘要

This paper describes how the once dominant dialect,conservative Received Pronunciation,has seen its influence diminish dramatically since the mid-twentieth century.The author explains the historical rise to prominence of the dialect before highlighting a key moment in Britain’s history that symbolised a weakening of conservative Received Pronunciation’s prestige and its hold on public life.This moment,during the early stages of World War Two,saw two English dialects employed by Germany on the one hand and Britain on the other in propaganda to win the hearts and minds of the British people.The paper gives details of the two key protagonists in this battle,William Joyce and John Boynton Priestley,better known as J.B.Priestley,along with an explanation of the events.The author concludes by discussing the implications of the decline in conservative Received Pronunciation,particularly with reference to the English language classroom,as well as introducing a research project that aims to further explore these implications.