The main changes in Received Pronunciation.

The main changes that have recently taken place in RP are as fol­lows:

1. The diphthongization of the RP [i:] and fu:] which in final posi­tion are often pronounced with a glide (e.g. see [sij], who [huu]).

2. Monophthongization of [ai] and [аи] when followed by [a] (e.g.
tower [Чаиэ] > [Чаа], fire ffaia] > ffaa]; now usually tran­
scribed as f fa(i)e]).

3. The centering of former [ou] to [аи]. As A. Gimson writes, "it is
perhaps the most striking of the changes which have affected
the pronunciation of British English in recent times".

4. A greater weakening of vowels in weakly stressed syllables,
which results in the use of the neutral [э] where the more con­
servative form had and has the stronger [i], e.g. believe
[ba'lkv] along with [bfli:v], interesting fmtrastirj] along with
f intnstirj].

But RP does not accept a loss of the [a] - [i] distinction in final open syllables (e.g. between better ["beta] and Betty f beti], dollar f d^la] and dolly f d^li]). RP retains [l] in such mor­pheme endings as ~ed, -es, e.g. matted fmsetid], teaches fti:t f iz] (as opposed to mattered fmsetad], teachers [ ti:t faz]).

5. The assimilation of the following sounds: [sj] > [ [], [zj] > [3],

[tj] ^> [t []» [dj] > [d-5] ' (e.g. issue, crozier, situation, education). Such assimilation can occur even on the borderline of two

words, e.g. makes you fmeik fju:], as you [ae> ju:], what you [^_wDt fju:], did you [⁴did3u:].

5. The final [b], [d], [g] are now partly devoiced. But the distinc­
tions between [b] - [p], [d] - [t], [g] - [k] are just as clearly
marked, because [p], [t], [k] are fortis, while [b], [d], [g] are
lenis (cf. cab - cap, had - hat, bag - back).

6. The use of the intrusive [r], which some 20-30 years was care­
fully avoided by RP speakers.

Nowadays RP tolerates the intrusive [r] in such phrases as the idea [r] of it, Asia [r] and Africa, drama [r] and music.

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