Pronunciation variations between RP speakers and SL speakers

There are numerous differences between RP pronunciation when compared it with the
pronunciation found among speakers in Sri Lanka. When we focus on Sri Lankan pronunciation,
it is obvious that Sri Lankan English unique phonological features influenced by the Sinhala
language.
- Some characteristics are, Vowel sounds: Sri Lankan speakers may have distinct vowel sounds,
especially in words like "bath" and "path." Short "a":The "a" in words like "trap" or "bad" might
be pronounced closer to an "e" sound in Sri Lankan English. (RP: /a/, Sri Lankan: /ɛ/) Long
"a":The long "a" sound in "face" or "plate" can sometimes be shortened and centralized in Sri
Lankan English. (RP: /ei/, Sri Lankan: /e/) Short "o": The short "o" in "hot" or "shop" can be
closer to an "a" sound in Sri Lankan English. (RP: /ɒ/, Sri Lankan: /a/) Sri Lankan English
vowels might differ slightly from RP in terms of their diphthongs (two-part vowel sounds) and
the length of certain vowel sounds.
- Consonant sounds: The pronunciation of consonants, such as "th" and "v," may differ from
RP. Also Sri Lankan English might simplify some consonant clusters at the end of words. For
example, "asked" could be pronounced as "askt"
- Rhoticity: Unlike RP, Sri Lankan speakers tend to retain the "r" sound at the end of words.
‘’R" sounds:RP is a rhotic accent, meaning the "r" is pronounced in all positions (car, park,
better). Sri Lankan English, like many other non-rhotic accents, often drops the "r" at the end of
words or before consonants (care, pahk, betta).
- Intonation patterns: Sri Lankan English often has its own intonation patterns, influenced by
the native languages spoken in Sri Lanka. RP speakers often exhibit a distinction between the
vowels in words like "lot" and "cloth," pronounced with the same vowel in Sri Lankan English.
RP speakers typically pronounce "lot" with a short vowel sound as in "hot," while in Sri Lankan
English, both words might have the same vowel sound.
The pronunciation of the "r" sound can vary. In RP, the "r" is often not pronounced at the end of
words or before consonants, while Sri Lankan speakers tend to pronounce it in all
positions.Some notable phonetic features of RP are, "r" after vowel: RP speakers only pronounce
the "r" sound in words when it is followed by a vowel sound. For example:
"butter": RP pronunciation is /ˈbʌtə/, where the "r" sound is dropped.
"buttery": RP pronunciation is /ˈbʌtəri/, retaining the "r" sound.
"W" and "V" sounds: In Sinhala, the primary language of Sri Lanka, doesn't differentiate
between /w/ and /v/. This can lead to Sri Lankan speakers sometimes interchanging these sounds
in English words (wet/vet, wine/vine).
"h" at word onset: RP speakers pronounce the "h" sound at the beginning of words, unlike some
other British accents that may omit it. Also RP speakers tend to use a "t" sound in words like
"water" and "butter," whereas Sri Lankan speakers might use a flap or a more pronounced "d"
sound, especially in informal speech.
 - The "th" sound is another area of difference. RP speakers use distinct sounds for "th" as in
"thin" and "th" as in "this," while Sri Lankan speakers might merge these sounds, often using a
dental "t" or "d" sound instead. In RP, the "t" sound between vowels is often pronounced as a
flap, sounding similar to a quick "d" sound (e.g. "better" pronounced as "bedder"). Sri Lankan
speakers might also use a flap, but it can vary depending on the individual's background or level
of English proficiency. So RP adheres to specific standards associated with British English, Sri
Lankan English exhibit variations influenced by local linguistic factors. Both accents contribute
to the rich tapestry of global English varieties.