What is Received Pronunciation? 什么是公认发音（RP）？
Received Pronunciation (RP) is regarded as the standard accent of Standard English in the United Kingdom, with a relationship to regional accents similar to the relationship in other European languages between their standard varieties and their regional forms. RP is defined in the Concise Oxford English Dictionary as "the standard accent of English as spoken in the south of England", although it can be heard from native speakers throughout England and Wales. Peter Trudgill estimated in 1974 that 3% of people in Britain were RP speakers.
许多欧洲语言都有它们的方言语音和标准语音，公认语音（RP）则是标准英式英语的标准语音。虽然在全英国（包括英格兰和威尔士）都有RP的语者，在简明牛津词典中，RP被定义为“在英格兰南部地区使用的、标准的英语语音”。彼得•特鲁吉尔1974年估计，全英国约有3%的人口使用RP。
Although nothing intrinsic about RP marks it as superior to any other variety, sociolinguistic factors have given RP particular prestige in parts of Britain. It has thus been seen as the accent of those with power, money, and influence, though it has in recent times been perceived negatively as associated with undeserved privilege. Since the 1960s, a greater permissiveness towards allowing regional English varieties has taken hold in education and the media in Britain.
虽然RP不具有什么内在的语音优势，但是在种种社会历史因素的作用下，RP事实上已经成为一种在部分地区的优势语言，因此RP被看作是那些有权者、有钱人和有名望的人的标志之一。当然，近年来越来越多人反对RP的这种特殊地位。从上世纪六十年代起，许多地方口音也被运用到教育和传媒领域中。
It is important not to confuse the notion of Received Pronunciation – a standard 'accent' – with the standard variety of the English language used in England that is given names such as "Standard English", "the Queen's English", "Oxford English", or "BBC English". The study of RP is concerned exclusively with pronunciation, while study of the standard language is also concerned with matters such as grammar, vocabulary and style. An individual using RP will typically speak Standard English, although the reverse is not necessarily true (e.g. the standard language may be pronounced with a regional accent, such as a Scottish or Yorkshire 'accent'; but it is very unlikely that someone speaking RP would use it to speak the Scots or the Yorkshire 'dialect').
不能混淆标准语音（Standard Accent 即RP）和标准英语（Standard English）、女王英语（the Queen’s English）、牛津英语（Oxford English）这几个概念。关于标准语音的研究只关心发音，而标准语言的研究不仅关心语音，还关注其他因素诸如词汇、语法和文体等。一个说标准语音的人一定在说标准英语，但反过来不行。因为标准英语可能带有地方口音，如苏格兰口音和约克口音；但是一个人却不太可能用标准语音来读苏格兰方言或约克方言。
许多欧洲语言都有它们的方言语音和标准语音，公认语音（RP）则是标准英式英语的标准语音。虽然在全英国（包括英格兰和威尔士）都有RP的语者，在简明牛津词典中，RP被定义为“在英格兰南部地区使用的、标准的英语语音”。彼得•特鲁吉尔1974年估计，全英国约有3%的人口使用RP。
Although nothing intrinsic about RP marks it as superior to any other variety, sociolinguistic factors have given RP particular prestige in parts of Britain. It has thus been seen as the accent of those with power, money, and influence, though it has in recent times been perceived negatively as associated with undeserved privilege. Since the 1960s, a greater permissiveness towards allowing regional English varieties has taken hold in education and the media in Britain.
虽然RP不具有什么内在的语音优势，但是在种种社会历史因素的作用下，RP事实上已经成为一种在部分地区的优势语言，因此RP被看作是那些有权者、有钱人和有名望的人的标志之一。当然，近年来越来越多人反对RP的这种特殊地位。从上世纪六十年代起，许多地方口音也被运用到教育和传媒领域中。
It is important not to confuse the notion of Received Pronunciation – a standard 'accent' – with the standard variety of the English language used in England that is given names such as "Standard English", "the Queen's English", "Oxford English", or "BBC English". The study of RP is concerned exclusively with pronunciation, while study of the standard language is also concerned with matters such as grammar, vocabulary and style. An individual using RP will typically speak Standard English, although the reverse is not necessarily true (e.g. the standard language may be pronounced with a regional accent, such as a Scottish or Yorkshire 'accent'; but it is very unlikely that someone speaking RP would use it to speak the Scots or the Yorkshire 'dialect').
不能混淆标准语音（Standard Accent 即RP）和标准英语（Standard English）、女王英语（the Queen’s English）、牛津英语（Oxford English）这几个概念。关于标准语音的研究只关心发音，而标准语言的研究不仅关心语音，还关注其他因素诸如词汇、语法和文体等。一个说标准语音的人一定在说标准英语，但反过来不行。因为标准英语可能带有地方口音，如苏格兰口音和约克口音；但是一个人却不太可能用标准语音来读苏格兰方言或约克方言。
