Recent years have seen an upsurge in changes pertaining to the Received Pronunciation (RP). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (hereinafter referred to as LPD) compiled by Wells seems to constitute the main reference point for English learners around the world particularly in terms of learning British English. The phonetic symbols included therein can also be found in many other books related to phonetics. However, due to certain changes which can be observed in RP spoken today certain dictionaries attempt to update the phonetic symbols to reflect particular pronunciation changes. One of the dictionaries which subscribes to this category is the Routledge Dictionary of Pronunciation for Current English (hereinafter referred to as RDPCE) compiled by Upton and Kretszchmar. The authors of the dictionary highlight the greater range of transcriptions provided in the dictionary as opposed to its more prescriptive counterparts. New pronunciation tendencies are conveyed by employing symbols which differ from the ones applied in LPD. The most salient features of RDPCE are as follows: [æ] transcribed as [a] (reflecting the more open position of the vowel) [e] transcribed as [ɛ] (reflecting the lowering of this sound) [aɪ] transcribed as [ʌɪ] [eə] transcribed as [ɛː] the endings -ed and -es transcribed as [-Ɨd] and [-Ɨz] both [tʃ] and [tj], [dʒ] and [dj] transcriptions are included the inclusion of the intrusive r [e.g., wɪðˈdrɔː(r)] The symbols are deliberated on and assessed in terms of facilitating the process of learning based on particular examples (e.g., institutionalisation, parents, issue). It is argued that RDPCE may prove to be very useful when it comes to being cognisant of change in RP especially for advanced learners. The great multiplicity of transcriptions, however, is also inextricably linked to hindering the comprehension of new words for beginners. It is also described what other implications the new symbols have for both beginners and advanced English learners.
Modern RP in the Routledge Pronunciation Dictionary of Current English / Ryker, Karolina. - (2023). (Intervento presentato al convegno Accents 2023: 16th International Conference on Native and Non-Native Accents of English tenutosi a Łódź; Poland).
Modern RP in the Routledge Pronunciation Dictionary of Current English
Karolina Ryker
2023
Abstract
Recent years have seen an upsurge in changes pertaining to the Received Pronunciation (RP). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (hereinafter referred to as LPD) compiled by Wells seems to constitute the main reference point for English learners around the world particularly in terms of learning British English. The phonetic symbols included therein can also be found in many other books related to phonetics. However, due to certain changes which can be observed in RP spoken today certain dictionaries attempt to update the phonetic symbols to reflect particular pronunciation changes. One of the dictionaries which subscribes to this category is the Routledge Dictionary of Pronunciation for Current English (hereinafter referred to as RDPCE) compiled by Upton and Kretszchmar. The authors of the dictionary highlight the greater range of transcriptions provided in the dictionary as opposed to its more prescriptive counterparts. New pronunciation tendencies are conveyed by employing symbols which differ from the ones applied in LPD. The most salient features of RDPCE are as follows: [æ] transcribed as [a] (reflecting the more open position of the vowel) [e] transcribed as [ɛ] (reflecting the lowering of this sound) [aɪ] transcribed as [ʌɪ] [eə] transcribed as [ɛː] the endings -ed and -es transcribed as [-Ɨd] and [-Ɨz] both [tʃ] and [tj], [dʒ] and [dj] transcriptions are included the inclusion of the intrusive r [e.g., wɪðˈdrɔː(r)] The symbols are deliberated on and assessed in terms of facilitating the process of learning based on particular examples (e.g., institutionalisation, parents, issue). It is argued that RDPCE may prove to be very useful when it comes to being cognisant of change in RP especially for advanced learners. The great multiplicity of transcriptions, however, is also inextricably linked to hindering the comprehension of new words for beginners. It is also described what other implications the new symbols have for both beginners and advanced English learners.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
