Research on Humanities and Social Sciences www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-5766 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0484 (Online) Vol.8, No.24, 2018 27 A Comparative Analysis of Segmental and Suprasegmental Features of the Received Pronunciation (RP) and General American (GAM) NWABUEZE, Ejike E. Department of English Language, Faculty of Arts and the Use of English Language, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka OKOYE, Mercy The use of English unit, School of General Studies, Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka OLUCHI CHRIS OKEUGO Ph.D. The use of English unit, School of General Studies, Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka Abstract: This is a comparative analysis of the Received Pronunciation (RP) and General American (GAM). The researcher adopted a theoretical approach. Two dialects: the RP and CAM are adequately and specifically considered. They represent widely two standard dialects of English language used in the United Kingdom and the North America. They are equally the dialects taught to non-native learner of English outside the United Kingdom and the North America. In order to arrive at comprehensive findings, the researcher examines the segmental and suprasegmental features of the RP and CAM. The segmentals are vowels and consonants, while the segmentals are stress, rhythm and intonation. Also, in order to adequate information for this research, books, articles and (from the World Wide Web) on the RP and GAM are consulted. The findings reveal that there are similarities and differences in segmental and suprasegmental features of the RP. The study concluded that Keywords: Comparative Analysis, Segmental and Suprasegmental, Received Pronunciation, General American Gam Introduction Phonology etymologically is a Greek word coined from phono logy. Phono means sound or voice, while logy means study. Thus, it is a branch of linguistics that is concerned with the study of system with reference to their distribution and patterning languages. The study of Phonology is concerned with the organization of speech within specific language” (2). Accordingly, Crystal notes in the Cambridge Encyclopedia of English that the aim of phonology is to “discover the principles that govern the way sounds are organized in languages and explain the variations that occurs” (4). In other words, phonology involves the study of how a language speaker systematically uses these sounds in other to express meaning. Phonology enables speakers to understand the principles regulating the use of sounds. In discussion of phonology reference is often made to Phonetics as it describe how sounds can be made and perceived (2). The phonology of English equally enables the speakers to understand its suprasegmental features. English phonology therefore, is the study of the sound system in English. Like all languages, the spoken English has variations in its pronunciation, both diachronically and synchronically from dialect, hence English sounds are segmented (units) known as vowels and consonants. The suprasegmental features (stress, intonation, etc.) also constitute the sound system of the English language. According to Onuigbo, “suprasegmental features (stress, intonation, etc.) are necessary for the proper functioning of English sounds in the actual speech process” (1). In other words, these suprasegmental features help users of the language assign different meanings to an expression. For instance, an expression such as “You can go” can be a statement; question, or command. British and North American dialects are regarded as the standard dialects of English language. That is why it is not surprising that non-native speakers try as much as possible to master either the British or North American dialect or both, even as they unconsciously carry over the intonation and phonemic inventory from their mother tongue into their English speech. However, notwithstanding the lofty positions of British and American English, their different dialects have given, rise to different pronunciations even within their identified geographical locations. In other words, different pronunciations of British and American English are influenced by the phonemic inventory of regional dialects of British and American English, respectively. Hence, native English speakers can often identify precisely where a person comes from. A study of these two standard dialects of the language reveals element of pronunciation differences. These pronunciation differences as already observed are based on various regional dialects of English that exist in the United Kingdom and the North