RP vs Posh English: What's the Difference?

TLDRRP, or Received Pronunciation, is a prestigious accent in the UK that is taught in dictionaries and used in textbooks. However, only a small percentage of the population actually speaks pure RP. Posh English, on the other hand, is an upper-class accent associated with the aristocracy and public school education. While RP is more regionally nonspecific and class neutral, posh English often has distinct pronunciations and is associated with certain social classes.

Key insights

🗣️RP, or Received Pronunciation, is a prestigious accent in the UK.

🎩Posh English is an upper-class accent associated with the elite and public school education.

🌍RP is more regionally nonspecific and class neutral.

📚Posh English often has distinct pronunciations and is associated with certain social classes.

🔀Accents constantly change over time, and regional accents are now more accepted and celebrated.

Q&A

What is RP?

—RP, or Received Pronunciation, is a prestigious accent in the UK and is often taught in dictionaries and textbooks.

Who speaks posh English?

—Posh English is associated with the upper class and those who received a private school education.

Is RP still widely spoken?

—No, only a small percentage of the population in the UK speaks pure RP.

Is posh English the same as RP?

—No, posh English often has distinct pronunciations and is associated with specific social classes.

Are regional accents more accepted now?

—Yes, over time, regional accents have become more accepted and celebrated.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Introduction to the topic of RP and posh English accents.

05:02History of RP and how it became the standard pronunciation.

10:08Differences in pronunciation between RP and posh English.

16:16Comparison of RP and posh English using examples.

21:53Fun conversation between the author and Tarquin.

23:04Promotion of the author's podcasts.

Browse more