The British accent and pronunciation has a rich and varied history that has been fashioned by a number of elements over the years, including, cultural influences, social class, geography etc. We're going to look at the roots of the British accent, as used today.
Historical Roots of Pronunciation
Old English
Also known as Anglo-Saxon, was spoken from the 5th to the 11th centuries, and is the earliest form of English spoken in Britain. Hugely different than today's English pronunciation, it was an intricate system of vowels and consonant sounds that were akin to Germanic languages spoken, that had an emphasis on stress and accentuation.
Middle English
Pronunciation between the 11th and 15th centuries started to change during the time of Middle English. This was largely due to the Latin and French influences which lead to a decrease in inflection and a simplification of its pronunciation. Middle English was a complex system of long and short vowels formed by stress and accentuation.
Early Modern English
Spoken in Britain from 15th to 17th centuries, and characterised by the Great Vowel Shift, this move significantly changed the pronunciation of English vowels, and produced new vowel sounds. Along with a simplification of the consonants system, reducing the number of consonant sounds.
Late Modern English
Spoken from 18th up to the present day, brought in numerous changes introducing new sounds and the development of regional accents and dialects. Received British English, and Standard British English became the recognised pronunciation of Britain in the 19th and early 20th centuries, acknowledging a more diverse range of accents and pronunciations.
The Elements that have Fashioned British Pronunciation
Regional Differences
If you've ever visited Britain you will have noticed the huge differences between the regions and cities you visited. This is due to the geography, history and cultural influences. For instance, the Welsh accent is influenced by Cymraeg the Welsh language, and likewise, the Scottish accent is influenced by the Gaelic language. With the rise of regional pride and identity, English pronunciation has become more striking.
Education and Social Class
Education and social class have made a significant impact on English pronunciation. With upper-class pupils being taught the "correct" way to pronounce English, leaving those from challenged socio-economic backgrounds under criticism.
Cultural Factors
A shift started to take place in the 1960s with bands like the Beatles leading regional accents to become more acceptable on the big screen and TV.
Globalisation
American English and pronunciation through music, film and TV has had a massive impact on pronunciation and vocabulary in certain areas of British English. Globalisation has also impacted pronunciation, adding new words and sounds from other languages.
The Condition of British English Pronunciation Today and How it May Look in the Future
Technology and Media Influences
With regional accents becoming more accepted in settings such as business, Received Pronunciation has taken something of a backseat in today's Britain. This has come with the drive towards greater equality in regions across the country.
Consequence of Multiculturalism and Immigration
In some British communities the adoption of sounds and words from other languages have come into the pronunciation of the language. However, some communities still speak their own native language within their regional communities, without the need of knowing any English.
What Lies Ahead for British Accents and Dialects
The future of English pronunciation with the introduction of technology and globalisation is anyone's guess.
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