RP or not RP? accent reduction takes on a whole new meaning

How Accent Softening can unlock Clearer Communication and Build Credibility

A new type of challenge came up for me this week: how do you make an accent sound less… accented?

I was working with a very experienced voiceover artist. She's from a middle-class background and grew up in the south of England, so her natural accent is Received Pronunciation.

Received Pronunciation (RP) if you haven't heard this term before, is what linguists' call the accent you tend to hear from many BBC broadcasters, from newsreaders Mishal Husain and Clive Myrie, to radio DJ Zoe Ball (pictured). This is why I often call it 'BBC English'.

As you will hear if you listen to them speak, Mishal Husain has a different sound to Zoe Ball. Yet I'd describe both of them as 'RP'.

The voiceover professional I was working with sounds more like Husain; but as her job is to deliver a reading that sounds the way her clients want it to sound, she's keen to broaden her repertoire, and find a flatter, less 'posh' sound that's still RP, but has a different less polished feel that her usual professional voice.

Most of the people I work with are not quite at this level - professional voice users doing forensic-level fine tuning . But it got me thinking.

Voiceover: professional voice need to adapt; most of us just want to be ourselves

Looking in detail at the differences between one speaker and another, with broadly the same accent, reminded me that although RP is its own distinctive accent, it's tempting to observe that no two British English RP speakers sound the same!

In other words, everyone - whether a native speaker or speaking English as a second language - develops a sound that's unique to them.

Accents are deeply personal - they're rooted in the habits of your muscles and brain, and they say a lot about who you are.

“Accents are deeply personal ”

To transform how you speak, it’s crucial to understand your existing patterns and consciously adopt new ones.

Generally that means NOT completely dropping the old habits. It means building new ones alongside and around the existing habits.

That said, this process can be especially daunting for non-native English speakers, as British accents—particularly Standard English or RP - have some unique characteristics rarely found in other mainstream languages like Spanish, Mandarin or Arabic.

Here’s a handful of the most tricky pronunciations and how you can overcome the challenges they pose: 

The Challenges of English Pronunciation

 Consonants

Every language has sounds that are tough for non-native speakers to replicate. In Standard British English, the "r" and "th" sounds often trip people up. For example, the "w" sound presents difficulties for speakers of German, Russian, or Hindi. A simple question like “What do you want?” may sound like “Vot do you vont?” in these cases.

 Vowels

English vowels can be equally perplexing. Many do not exist in other languages, making them difficult to mimic:

- The “u” sound in "butter" is distinct in English, often rendered as "batter" by Polish, Italian, or Spanish speakers.

- The “ee” sound in "three" doesn’t occur in languages like Russian, which can lead to misunderstandings like “I don’t want to live here” instead of “I don’t want to leave here.”

Unstressed Vowels

Fish ‘n’ chips: traditional lazy English pronunciation

Native English speakers in most parts of the Anglosphere often reduce unstressed vowels, as in “fish ‘n’ chips.” Non-native speakers may emphasize every word, as in “fish AND chips,” altering the rhythm and making it sound unfamiliar to British or American ears. (However, to native English speakers in places like Nigeria or Malaysia, you might expect to hear 'fish AND chips')

 Spelling vs. Pronunciation

English spelling is notoriously inconsistent. Consider the variations of –ough in words like "bough," "cough," "dough," "enough," "through," and "thorough." Many learners default to pronouncing words as they’re spelled, leading to confusion.

An Italian lawyer I coached was surprised to learn the "r" in "labour" and "daughter" is silent—“Lay-buh? Daw-tuh? That’s so much easier!” she exclaimed.

What Does “Reducing Your Accent” Mean?

Again, accent reduction doesn’t mean erasing your natural accent. Everyone has an accent, and there’s no “correct” way to speak English.

The goal is clarity. Received Pronunciation serves as a useful baseline for accent softening due to its neutral, regionless status and global recognition.

Here’s why RP is effective:

1. Neutrality: It’s not tied to any specific region of the UK.

2. Understandability: Widely recognised in the UK and abroad.

3. Expressiveness: RP’s long vowels, clear consonants, and confident intonation make it ideal for persuasive, effective communication.

Why Do Professionals Seek Accent Reduction Training?

Most of my clients are highly skilled professionals who want to ensure their message isn’t lost due to their accent. Here’s why they choose accent softening:

1. Workplace Clarity: Many work in environments where being understood quickly and clearly is essential. Misunderstandings like “Could you say that again?” or “Sorry, I didn’t catch that” can disrupt communication and productivity.

2. Credibility: Research from the University of Chicago indicates that strong accents can negatively impact perceived credibility, not due to bias, but because of difficulty understanding. Clear communication builds trust and makes a lasting impression.

3. Integration: For professionals who’ve made the UK their home, sounding closer to Standard English helps them feel more at ease and confident in social and professional settings. They don’t want to have people constantly asking ‘where are you from?’ when the truest answer is, ‘here! I’m from here!’

Why Received Pronunciation Works

British English accent: BBC journalist Mishal Husain

The RP accent of BBC journalists like Mishal Husain and Clive Myrie is no coincidence when it comes to the nature of their work: it’s neutral, clear, and highly effective for global communication.

That’s why I use RP as the foundation of my coaching sessions—it’s not about striving for perfection but achieving a version of you that’s easily understood and authentic.

Take the First Step

 Accent reduction training empowers you to communicate with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re an international professional in London or a native speaker looking to dial down a regional accent, I can help you find a sound that suits your needs.

And now that I have some experience of it, I can even help you if your RP is too RP :)

Contact me today to book a free taster session and discover how accent softening can transform your communication skills.