Received Pronunciation (RP) is the standard for international communication. It is not about sounding like “The Queen” or a politician. It is about removing the regional interference from your speech so that you can be understood by anyone, anywhere.
Achieving this requires more than just “listening and repeating”. It requires a mechanical breakdown of how you produce sounds.
Here is the four-step protocol for non-native speakers.
1. Master the Data: The IPA & Vowel Charts
You cannot build a house without a blueprint. In pronunciation, your blueprint is the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
Many students try to learn by “feeling”. This is a mistake. You need to learn by data.
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The Problem: Your ear is not yet tuned to hear the difference between “Ship” and “Sheep.”
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The Solution: The IPA gives you a visual symbol for every sound. It removes the guesswork. You must be able to identify the distinct coordinates of every vowel on the Vowel Sound Chart.
2. Diagnose Your Default Setting
Before you can install a new accent, you must understand your current “Operating System”. How do you articulate sounds in your native language?
Ask yourself: Where does the sound vibrate?
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Nasal: Does your voice resonate in your nose? (Common in French/Portuguese).
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Guttural: Does it resonate in the back of your throat? (Common in Arabic/Dutch).
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Velar: Is the back of your tongue always high? (Common in Russian/Chinese).
RP requires a specific Forward Resonance. You must consciously release the tension in the back of the throat and move the vibration to the front of the mouth. This is the most difficult step, but it is the foundation of the accent.
3. Isolate the Components
Do not try to speak full sentences yet. You need to validate the individual components first. RP consists of roughly 44 phonemes (20 vowels, 24 consonants).
Can you produce each one with 100% accuracy in isolation?
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Drill the Monophthongs (Short and Long vowels).
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Drill the Diphthongs (Moving vowels).
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Drill the Plosives (/p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/).
If you cannot say the sound perfectly on its own, you will never be able to say it in a sentence.
4. Forensic Observation
When you watch native speakers, start looking at the mechanics.
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Watch their Jaw: How much does it open?
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Watch their Lips: Are they rounded or relaxed?
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Watch their Tongue: Does it touch the teeth?
You need to override your muscle memory. Immersion is not just about hearing; it is about analyzing.
Summary
There is no magic pill. This is a mechanical skill, like playing the piano. If you understand the IPA, control your resonance, and drill the individual sounds, the accent will follow.
Start the full training programme here: