what is received english

Received English, also known as Received Pronunciation (RP), is the accent traditionally regarded as the standard and most prestigious form of spoken British English. It is a regionally neutral accent that was generally considered "proper" English among the middle classes in Britain. RP is associated with high social class and has been the "everyday speech in the families of Southern English persons whose men-folk . RP is spoken mostly in London and South East England but is also the accent most often used in formal education and the media, such as news broadcasts. RP is one of the main accents used to teach English as a foreign language. It is important to note that RP is not the only British accent, and there are around 40 British accents.