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#205970 06/05/12 02:47 AM
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Jackie Offline OP
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From an article: ...speaking in their own local accents instead of the plummy English known among academics as Received Pronunciation.
Why "Received Pronunciation", and, especially, why "plummy"?

Jackie #205976 06/05/12 04:02 AM
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Received_pronunciation

plummy 1resembling a plum: cosy reds and plummy blues

2British informal (of a person’s voice) having an accent thought typical of the English upper classes: a plummy voice rich with haughty disdain

3British informal choice; highly desirable: there are some plummy roles for the taking here
[Compact Oxford Dict.]

tsuwm #205979 06/05/12 04:54 AM
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Recieved Pronounciation

Standard british English, Think BBC1

Jackie #205980 06/05/12 10:34 AM
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Received Pronunciation

If not Jackie's question, at least mine, is not what it means but why call it Received?

Jackie #205981 06/05/12 10:39 AM
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Not to mention what is it about plums? They're kinda shaped like pears and when something goes all pear shaped it's not a good thing.

Faldage #205983 06/05/12 12:48 PM
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? plums are pretty much round, at least here in flyover land. if they've gone pear-shaped, they're probly not too good for eating.

Jackie #205984 06/05/12 12:49 PM
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But if your tones go all pear-shaped that's a good thing, right?

Faldage #205985 06/05/12 01:13 PM
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evidently going pear-shaped is different to having pear-shaped tones. the word detective ties the former phrase to the Royal Air Force, where learning to fly apparently includes doing acrobatic loops. Difficult for even an experienced pilot, these loops as performed by a novice are more than likely to appear lopsided and "pear-shaped." One can imagine observers on the ground saying, "Good. Good. Oh rats, he's gone all pear-shaped."

it's somewhat of a contranymic phrase, what?

Faldage #205986 06/05/12 03:27 PM
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If not Jackie's question, at least mine, is not what it means but why call it Received?

In polite and plummy English Received here means: Accepted by General agreement and/or in spite of General Disagreement.

Jackie #206031 06/09/12 02:02 AM
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Jackie Offline OP
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Ah. Merci. wink Faldage got my meaning perzactly. And, who is General Disagreement? He sounds rather a shady character.

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