In this section you will hear a mini-lecture. You will hear the lecture ONCE ONLY. While listening, take notes on the important points. Your notes will not be marked, but you will need them to complete a gap-filling task after the mini-lecture. When the lecture is over, you will be given two minutes to check your notes, and another ten minutes to complete the gap-filling task on ANSWER SHEET ONE. Use the blank sheet for note taking. Now listen to the mini-lecture. ANSWER SHEET ONE Complete the gap-filling task. Some of the gaps below may require a maximum of THREE words. Make sure the word(s) you fill in is (are) both grammatically and semantically acceptable. You may refer to your notes. Received Pronunciation (RP) I. Definition 1. Some popular terms are a little 1 — The Queen’s English — Oxford English — BBC English 2. RP speakers avoid 2 grammatical constructions and localised vocabulary characteristic of regional dialects. 3. RP reveals a great deal about speakers’ 3 background. II. Historical reasons RP was originally associated with a dialect spoken in the region between central England and London, including Oxford and Cambridge. Its survival was due to its use by 4 in the 14th century and by university students in the Middle Ages. Its rise in importance resulted from its application in government and official documents. The prestige of its distinctive pattern of pronunciation came about with its use in 5 in the 19th century. As a result, its pronunciation is accepted by television and the radio, the professions and teaching English as 6 . III, Three characteristics of RP 1. Its speakers don’t regard themselves as connected with any 7 ; 2. RP is largely used in England; 3. RP is a "class" accent, associated with 8 social classes. IV. Its present status 1. Reasons for decline in the prestige of RP — loss of monopoly of education by the privileged — 9 of high education in the post-war period However, it still retains its eminence among certain professional people. 2. There is a rise in the status of all regional accents. 3. We are moving towards the 10 : general acceptance of all regional accents and absence of a class accent that transcends all regions.