The Queen's English?

Question

I've just recently discovered this term called recieved pronunciation and I'm not sure if it's spelled with caps. From Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Received_Pronunciation

"Received Pronunciation may be referred to as the Queen's (or King's) English, on the grounds that it is spoken by the monarch. It is also sometimes referred to as BBC English, because it was traditionally used by the BBC. Yet nowadays this is slightly misleading. Queen Elizabeth II speaks an almost unique form of English, and the BBC is no longer restricted to one type of accent, nor is "Oxbridge" (the universities of Oxford and Cambridge)."

How do you view that statement that she speaks an almost unique form of English? It was recently reported that the Queen has been one of the most studied persons in language in the last fifty years and that even her accent has changed a bit. Young "man" originally was pronounced nearly as young "men."

Answer 1

To speak English properly all that is needed are elocution lessons.

Answer 2

Received Pronunciation is spelt with caps.

The Queen's accent is not yet entirely unique, though it is fast becoming so.  In fact the Queen has had elocution lessons recently to tone down her accent slightly and make it less RP!

Answer 3

the royal family is german, and so are 70% of the english x

Answer 4

She originally had an intonation that was a reflection of her German ancestry.

If you listen to her speeches from the 1950s and from today you will realise that she has improved.

Answer 5

Don't exclusive "independent" or "public" boarding schools, such as Eton, teach their students to speak with a received pronunciation accent?   I understand that currently the BBC is just as likely to hire speakers with clear and precise regional accents.  

At any rate, for this American, at least, meeting some one who speaks the "Queen's English" makes it hard to verify just where he or she was born.  Is there a Scottish equivalent of the "Queen's English" or RP?

Answer 6

My brain hurts, its too late on a Friday to think about this.

Answer 7

the queen is a very highly cultured and educated lady and as such she pronounces her words some what different t a large portion of the the rest of the country.................of which some are VERY lazy about how they speak...........dropping "H's" etc etc instead of house it is said 'ouse...........

After her the next "posh" accent would be the the upper class ones again words are very clearly spoken......sort of think of a very very posh valley girl............usually makes me want to smack them HARD.

She also speaks very very quietly as well...................if you ever get a chance to hear the Queens speech given out every year via the TV, you will find it quite Nice to hear words said very very clearly.

regards