当代英语语音演变概述

Essentials of Sound Change in Contemporary English

英语语言历史虽短 ,但其三要素—语音、词汇和语法 ,始终处于变化之中 ,尤以词汇的变化为甚 ,特别是当今 ,由于科学技术的迅猛发展 ,大量的英语新词汇不断涌现。相对而言 ,英语语法和语音的变化较慢 ,在短期内不太明显 ,尤其是语音的演变更为缓慢。然而 ,半个多世纪以来 ,当代英语的RP(ReceivedPronunciation)语音发生了很大的变化。本文将从英语语音的自身特性 (内因 )和美语等外因的角度出发 ,详细探讨当代英语RP音在元音、辅音。

English, although with not a long history, has always been in constant change. Its word stock in different periods differ greatly from each other. So is it with its syntax and pronunciation. As far as its pronunciation is concerned, though the development is gradual and perhaps not perceptible within a short period of time, significant sound change in contemporary English has taken place in its past half century. The specific sound alternations in contemporary RP(Received Pronunciation) well be explored in this paper.