This book concisely describes ways in which today's standard British English speech differs
from the upper-class accent of the last century Received Pronunciation which many now find
old-fashioned or even comic. In doing so it provides a much-needed update to the existing
RP-based descriptions by which the sound system of British English is still known to many
around the world. The book opens with an account of the rise and fall of RP before turning to
a systematic analysis of the phonetic developments between RP and contemporary Standard
Southern British (SSB) in vowels consonants stress connected speech and intonation. Topics
covered include the anti-clockwise vowel shift the use of glottal stops 'intrusive r' vocal
fry and Uptalk. It concludes with a Mini Dictionary of well over 100 words illustrating the
changes described throughout the book and provides a chart of updated IPA vowel symbols. This
book is an essentialresource for anyone interested in British pronunciation and sound change
including academics in phonetics phonology applied linguistics and English language trainers
of English teachers English teachers themselves teachers of voice and accent coaches and
students in those areas.
