¹ For a detailed discussion of the conceptual issues involved here, see Singh (1992).

² It must be noted here that RP is a selectively imposed standard that can attract loyalty of usage and may be projected and seen as reflecting aesthetic superiority in matters of literacy and verbal competence (cf. Ikome 1990). In fact, several studies have shown that what is considered correct usage is more often the product of socio-historical forces reflecting the success of dominant elites in imposing their own style of speech as the prestige correct variety, than a reflection of the inherent linguistic aesthetic superiority of the standard form (Bourhis 1984 and Singh et al 1988).