37. The main changes in Received Pronunciation.

The main changes that have recently taken place in RP are as fol­lows:

1. The diphthongization of the RP [i:] and fu:] which in final posi­tion are often pronounced with a glide (e.g. see [sij], who [huu]).

2. Monophthongization of [ai] and [аи] when followed by [a] (e.g. tower [Чаиэ] > [Чаа], fire ffaia] > ffaa]; now usually tran­ scribed as f fa(i)e]).

3. The centering of former [ou] to [аи]. As A. Gimson writes, "it is perhaps the most striking of the changes which have affected the pronunciation of British English in recent times".

4. A greater weakening of vowels in weakly stressed syllables, which results in the use of the neutral [э] where the more con­ servative form had and has the stronger [i], e.g. believe [ba'lkv] along with [bfli:v], interesting fmtrastirj] along with f intnstirj].

But RP does not accept a loss of the [a] - [i] distinction in final open syllables (e.g. between better ["beta] and Betty f beti], dollar f d^la] and dolly f d^li]). RP retains [l] in such mor­pheme endings as ~ed, -es, e.g. matted fmsetid], teaches fti:t f iz] (as opposed to mattered fmsetad], teachers [ ti:t faz]).

5. The assimilation of the following sounds: [sj] > [ [] , [zj] > [3],

[tj] ^> [t []» [dj] > [d-5] ' (e.g. issue, crozier, situation, education). Such assimilation can occur even on the borderline of two

words, e.g. makes you fmeik fju:], as you [ae> ju:], what you [^_wDt fju:], did you [⁴did3u:].

5. The final [b], [d], [g] are now partly devoiced. But the distinc­ tions between [b] - [p], [d] - [t], [g] - [k] are just as clearly marked, because [p], [t], [k] are fortis, while [b], [d], [g] are lenis (cf. cab - cap, had - hat, bag - back).

6. The use of the intrusive [r], which some 20-30 years was care­ fully avoided by RP speakers.

Nowadays RP tolerates the intrusive [r] in such phrases as the idea [r] of it, Asia [r] and Africa, drama [r] and music.

38. Main differences between southern and northern dialects of England.

There are many different accents and dialects throughout England and people are often very proud of their local accent or dialect. In fact, English Language itself implies the language spoken by only the English excluding the possibility of other regional variations. The three largest recognisable dialect groups in England are Southern English dialects, Midlands English dialects and Northern English dialects. The most prominent isogloss is the foot–strut split, which runs roughly from mid-Shropshire (on the Welsh border) to south of Birmingham and then toThe Wash. South of the isogloss, in the Midlands and Southern dialects, the Middle English phoneme /ʊ/ split into /ʌ/ (as in cut, strut) and /ʊ/ (put,foot); this change did not occur north of the isogloss. In general, Southern English accents are distinguished from Northern English accents primarily by not using the short a in words such as "bath". In the south-east, the broad A is normally used before a /f/, /s/ or /θ/: words such as "cast" and "bath" are pronounced /kɑːst/, /bɑːθ/ rather than /kæst/, /bæθ/. This sometimes occurs before /nd/: it is used in "command" and "demand" but not in "brand" or "grand".