What is BBC English?

Catherine Sangster BBC Pronunciation Research Unit, London, UK

The term BBC English has been used popularly for many years. It is usually understood to mean a standardized form of spoken British English, often with reference to broadcast norms; i.e. "standard English as maintained by BBC announcers" (OED). More recently, linguists have started to use BBC English or Broadcast English as a convenient substitute for the outmoded Received Pronunciation (RP) when discussing that notorious accent traditionally associated with public schools and the south-east of England.

This paper will explore the ways in which BBC English is constructed and construed, asking whether it is (a) understood consistently, and (b) truly synonymous with RP. The accepted idea that BBC English reflects a specific accent standard imposed on broadcasters, either now or in the past, will be questioned. Also under discussion will be the putative role of broadcasters in general, and the BBC in particular, as guardians and disseminators of standard language.