Research Paper on:
Snobbery and Received Pronunciation

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Received Pronunciation in terms any greater than one of many ways to speak can be seen as a form of snobbery and prejudice. The way in which  accents have been interpreted over the centuries has been mixed, even common spelling is a relativity new occurrence (Lawson, 2000). However, historically Received Pronunciation along with some other accents have  been held in higher regard, with the perception of their importance still permeating society today. This was true even in Chaucers day, when there was snobbery in terms of the  southern accent. Indeed, at this time there was a skinner on trial in the southern part of the country, the testimony given by this man in the southern court was  judged to be untrustworthy as his accent fluctuated between southern English and Scottish (Clark, 1989). The impression of northerners in this way may be seen as tainted by other myths  and fabrications, creating the framework for prejudice against some accent to take place, alternatively it may have been a justification of the prejudice and snobbery that existed. For example, it  was believed that the devil had made a lair in the north of the country, only that the county was not known, this was even reflected in Chaucers Friars Tale;  "which locates the devils hideaway" fer in the north contree" (Ellis, 1995; 153). Therefore, there does not appear to be any real historical basis that gives reason for the different  value attachments. The real issue may be the perceptions of the people that come form places with accents. Those who were deemed to speak properly with Received Pronunciation were those  who had received an education, or were brought up by those who had the heirs and graces associated with society. A regional accent was seen as a lack of this