Hi there! Today, we’re diving into an interesting question: “What did the original colonists sound like? Did they have a modern British accent?” Let’s explore this topic together!
Accents are fascinating and can be quite complex. When we talk about a “modern British accent,” we’re usually referring to something called “Received Pronunciation” (RP). This is the accent often associated with the south of England and is what many people think of when they imagine a British accent.
But remember, just like in the UK, there are many different accents in the United States too. The “General American” accent is what people in the UK might think of as the typical American accent.
Back in the time of the original colonists, both British and American accents were what we call “rhotic.” This means that the letter “R” was pronounced in words like “hard” and “park.” In today’s Received Pronunciation, that “R” sound is often not pronounced.
Unfortunately, we don’t have any recordings from the 17th century, so we can’t be completely sure how people sounded back then. However, experts believe that both British and American accents were rhotic because the “R” was written in those words, suggesting it was pronounced.
It wasn’t until the late 18th century that British people started dropping the “R” in words like “hard” and “park.” This change is thought to have been influenced by social factors. During the Industrial Revolution, people from lower social classes who became wealthy wanted to set themselves apart by adopting a new way of speaking.
This led to the development of Received Pronunciation. Specialists known as orthoepists and teachers of elocution played a big role in shaping this accent. They decided on the “correct” pronunciations and taught people how to speak in this fashionable way.
If you ever watch a movie or play set in Britain before the 18th century, the characters should technically be speaking with accents that sound more American than the modern British accent we hear today.
Thanks for joining us on this journey through history and language! If you have any more questions or topics you’re curious about, feel free to share them. See you next time!
Try to imitate different accents, including the “General American” and “Received Pronunciation” accents. Record yourself speaking a few sentences in each accent. This will help you understand the differences and similarities between them. Share your recordings with the class and discuss what you found challenging or interesting about each accent.
Choose a historical figure from the time of the original colonists and research how they might have sounded based on their region and social class. Prepare a short presentation for the class, including a brief biography and a demonstration of their likely accent.
Create a timeline that shows the evolution of British and American accents from the 17th century to today. Include key events, such as the Industrial Revolution, that influenced changes in pronunciation. Use visuals and examples to make your timeline engaging and informative.
Watch a historical movie or play set in Britain before the 18th century. Pay attention to the accents used by the characters. Write a short report on whether the accents seem accurate based on what you’ve learned about rhotic and non-rhotic pronunciations. Discuss your findings with the class.
Write a short story or diary entry from the perspective of a 17th-century colonist. Use language and expressions that reflect the time period and try to incorporate the rhotic pronunciation in your writing. Share your story with the class and discuss how language and accents can influence storytelling.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m Craig, and this is Mental Floss on YouTube. Today, I’m going to answer Jacob Mitchell’s question: “What did the original colonists sound like? Did they have a modern British accent?” Let’s get started!
Accents are quite complex. When Jacob refers to a “modern British accent,” he likely means what linguists call “Received Pronunciation” (RP). There are many regional accents in the UK, but the Oxford English Dictionary defines RP as “the standard accent of English as spoken in the south of England.” This is typically what Americans think of when they mention a “British accent.”
However, it’s important to note that Americans also have a variety of accents. The “General American” accent is what a British person might refer to as an “American accent.”
During the time of the original colonists, both accents were rhotic, meaning the letter “R” was pronounced in words like “hard” and “park.” In Received Pronunciation, that “R” sound is not pronounced. Unfortunately, there are no recordings from the 17th century, so we can’t know for certain how British and American people sounded. However, linguists believe both were rhotic because the “R” exists in those words, suggesting it was likely pronounced.
Experts have noted that it wasn’t until the late 18th century that British people began to omit the “R” in words like “hard” or “park” in shorthand notes. Writing that “R” takes time due to its curves.
So, where did the “modern British accent” come from? According to The Cambridge History of the English Language, Received Pronunciation emerged in southern England during the Industrial Revolution. Individuals from lower classes who became wealthy developed this way of speaking to distinguish themselves from the social class they had surpassed.
The book states, “London pronunciation became the prerogative of a new breed of specialists— orthoepists and teachers of elocution. The orthoepists decided upon correct pronunciations, compiled pronouncing dictionaries, and, in private and expensive tutoring sessions, drilled enterprising citizens in fashionable articulation.”
Therefore, if you ever see a movie or play set in Britain before the 18th century, those characters should be speaking with American accents.
Thanks for watching Mental Floss on YouTube, made with the help of many knowledgeable orthoepists. If you have a Big Question of your own that you’d like answered, leave it below in the comments. See you next week!
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This version maintains the original content while removing informal language and potential distractions.
Accents – Distinctive ways of pronouncing words, often associated with a particular region or country. – The British and American accents can make the same English words sound quite different.
Colonists – People who settle in a new country or region, often establishing control over the indigenous population. – The colonists in America sought independence from British rule in the 18th century.
Rhotic – Relating to the pronunciation of the “r” sound, especially when it is pronounced strongly. – In rhotic accents, like those in parts of the United States, the “r” in “car” is pronounced clearly.
Pronunciation – The way in which a word is spoken or pronounced. – The pronunciation of “schedule” varies between British and American English.
Evolution – The gradual development or change of something over time. – The evolution of the English language has been influenced by many different cultures and languages.
Century – A period of one hundred years. – The 19th century was a time of great industrial and technological advancement.
Social – Relating to society or its organization. – Social changes in the 20th century led to more equal rights for women and minorities.
Revolution – A significant change in political power or organizational structures, often occurring in a relatively short period. – The American Revolution resulted in the thirteen colonies gaining independence from Britain.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Understanding history helps us learn from past mistakes and successes.
Language – A system of communication used by a particular community or country. – English is a language that has borrowed words from many other languages throughout its history.
