British English and "ain't"

[Berethond]

Actually, no, it isn't. Some languages include certain "key" words that indicate that the talker wants some sort of a response to know that the listener is paying attention. Japanese includes "ne" at the end of a sentence. From what you're describing, certain dialects of English include "innit" as their key word. Others use "right." It might be a verbal tic for some, but it's more likely that the talker wants to ensure that the listener is paying attention.

So is that why I say "like" all the time?

 

[Naheal]

Actually, no, it isn't. Some languages include certain "key" words that indicate that the talker wants some sort of a response to know that the listener is paying attention. Japanese includes "ne" at the end of a sentence. From what you're describing, certain dialects of English include "innit" as their key word. Others use "right." It might be a verbal tic for some, but it's more likely that the talker wants to ensure that the listener is paying attention.

So is that why I say "like" all the time?

You probably got in before I hit my edit. Depending on how you're using it, it could be either an indicator that you're looking for an active listener or that you're trying to fill in space as you're considering what you want to say.

 

[Berethond]

Actually, no, it isn't. Some languages include certain "key" words that indicate that the talker wants some sort of a response to know that the listener is paying attention. Japanese includes "ne" at the end of a sentence. From what you're describing, certain dialects of English include "innit" as their key word. Others use "right." It might be a verbal tic for some, but it's more likely that the talker wants to ensure that the listener is paying attention.

So is that why I say "like" all the time?

You probably got in before I hit my edit. Depending on how you're using it, it could be either an indicator that you're looking for an active listener or that you're trying to fill in space as you're considering what you want to say.

Probably a mix of both, then.

 

[baseracer]

I use Aren't...I don't really hear Ain't around here.

I'm from Wisconsin...I guess that's far enough from the south east so the dialect doesn't reach here.

However, people give me strange looks if I call a water fountain a bubbler outside of wisconsin.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

I'm also pretty sure that it's a regional thing for the Southwest US, too, but I'll study that at a later date.

Pfffffffft. "Ain't" is a staple of the bogan vocabulary.

I don't hear "aren't" or "isn't" much. Most people I know use "--'re not" and "--'s not" instead.

edit: South Aussie, for them what want to know.

 

[Dags90]

Actually, no, it isn't. Some languages include certain "key" words that indicate that the talker wants some sort of a response to know that the listener is paying attention. Japanese includes "ne" at the end of a sentence. From what you're describing, certain dialects of English include "innit" as their key word. Others use "right." It might be a verbal tic for some, but it's more likely that the talker wants to ensure that the listener is paying attention.

Well then the person I have in mind is epic failing if they want a response, because they don't pause for a response. Don't even use inflection usually given to questions. It's a robotic attachment at the end of sentences.

And that last part is what grates me about it. If you think I'm not paying attention, say so. No need to be passive aggressive.

 

[qeinar]

i usually reffer to "british english" as english. : p

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Don't even use inflection usually given to questions.

You'd probably be driven to murder by certain Australian accents that end every sentence with the interrogative inflection. Christ knows I've been tempted on occasion.

 

[Naheal]

I'm also pretty sure that it's a regional thing for the Southwest US, too, but I'll study that at a later date.

Pfffffffft. "Ain't" is a staple of the bogan vocabulary.

I don't hear "aren't" or "isn't" much. Most people I know use "--'re not" and "--'s not" instead.

edit: South Aussie, for them what want to know.

The Aussie dialect was another one that I wanted to look at down the road. I'll put it on my list.

I've noticed that, at least with the majority of the Australians that I've spoken with, that there's a tendency of shortening words and such for easier use and such. Am I hearing things, or is that a bit more widespread where you're at?

Actually, no, it isn't. Some languages include certain "key" words that indicate that the talker wants some sort of a response to know that the listener is paying attention. Japanese includes "ne" at the end of a sentence. From what you're describing, certain dialects of English include "innit" as their key word. Others use "right." It might be a verbal tic for some, but it's more likely that the talker wants to ensure that the listener is paying attention.

Well then the person I have in mind is epic failing if they want a response, because they don't pause for a response. Don't even use inflection usually given to questions. It's a robotic attachment at the end of sentences.

Responses aren't always verbal. Sometimes, there's an involuntary response that's given in body language that's as subtle as a pupil dilating ever so slightly. You might not consciously do it or pick up on it, but it's there and you will notice it subconsciously.

Ever get that feeling that someone's not listening to you, even though they're looking you directly in the eyes and they're giving every other signal that they're listening to you? That's usually the reason

 

[Dags90]

You'd probably be driven to murder by certain Australian accents that end every sentence with the interrogative inflection. Christ knows I've been tempted on occasion.

Nah, there's a mushy part in my heart (rhyme!) for Aussie accents. I like inflection. It's so cool.

 

[KeyMaster45]

I would just like to point out that "ain't" has been added to Webster's Dictionary, thus making it proper english, or rather relegated to "non-standard"/"casual" as Webster's puts it.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ain%27t

If you're too lazy to click the link here's what they've got explaining the usage of "ain't"

Although widely disapproved as nonstandard and more common in the habitual speech of the less educated, ain't in senses 1 and 2 is flourishing in American English. It is used in both speech and writing to catch attention and to gain emphasis <the wackiness of movies, once so deliciously amusing, ain't funny anymore ? Richard Schickel> <I am telling you?there ain't going to be any blackmail ? R. M. Nixon>. It is used especially in journalistic prose as part of a consistently informal style <the creative process ain't easy ? Mike Royko>. This informal ain't is commonly distinguished from habitual ain't by its frequent occurrence in fixed constructions and phrases <well?class it ain't ? Cleveland Amory> <for money? say it ain't so, Jimmy! ? Andy Rooney> <you ain't seen nothing yet> <that ain't hay> <two out of three ain't bad> <if it ain't broke, don't fix it>. In fiction ain't is used for purposes of characterization; in familiar correspondence it tends to be the mark of a warm personal friendship. It is also used for metrical reasons in popular songs <Ain't She Sweet> <It Ain't Necessarily So>. Our evidence shows British use to be much the same as American.

-EDIT-
When it refers to "1 and 2" it's refering to the first two definitions of "ain't which are

1: am not : are not : is not

2: have not : has not

 

[Naheal]

i usually reffer to "british english" as english. : p

It's technically the same language, but I'm referring to a specific dialect.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

I'm also pretty sure that it's a regional thing for the Southwest US, too, but I'll study that at a later date.

Pfffffffft. "Ain't" is a staple of the bogan vocabulary.

I don't hear "aren't" or "isn't" much. Most people I know use "--'re not" and "--'s not" instead.

edit: South Aussie, for them what want to know.

yeah this, but I'm from the Midwest...

no offense to anyone at all, but the only people i hear use "ain't" are ghetto people who barely use broken up English as it is..i swear sometimes at McDonalds, to get the point across that i don't want cheese on the burger is harder than doing quantum physics..

 

[Naheal]

I would just like to point out that "ain't" has been added to Webster's Dictionary, thus making it proper english, or rather relegated to "non-standard"/"casual" as Webster's puts it.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ain%27t

If you're too lazy to click the link here's what they've got explaining the usage of "ain't"

Although widely disapproved as nonstandard and more common in the habitual speech of the less educated, ain't in senses 1 and 2 is flourishing in American English. It is used in both speech and writing to catch attention and to gain emphasis <the wackiness of movies, once so deliciously amusing, ain't funny anymore ? Richard Schickel> <I am telling you?there ain't going to be any blackmail ? R. M. Nixon>. It is used especially in journalistic prose as part of a consistently informal style <the creative process ain't easy ? Mike Royko>. This informal ain't is commonly distinguished from habitual ain't by its frequent occurrence in fixed constructions and phrases <well?class it ain't ? Cleveland Amory> <for money? say it ain't so, Jimmy! ? Andy Rooney> <you ain't seen nothing yet> <that ain't hay> <two out of three ain't bad> <if it ain't broke, don't fix it>. In fiction ain't is used for purposes of characterization; in familiar correspondence it tends to be the mark of a warm personal friendship. It is also used for metrical reasons in popular songs <Ain't She Sweet> <It Ain't Necessarily So>. Our evidence shows British use to be much the same as American.

-EDIT-
When it refers to "1 and 2" it's refering to the first two definitions of "ain't which are

1: am not : are not : is not

2: have not : has not

I think you're mistaking the term "improper" with "casual." While their evidence does show that it would be used far more often amongst certain political officers, id doesn't show that they're differentiating formal/polite English with informal/casual English. The formality of a word in no way affects the proper usage of a word in a grammatical and structural sense. The only thing that it affects is the situation that you would use it in.

 

[Naheal]

I'm also pretty sure that it's a regional thing for the Southwest US, too, but I'll study that at a later date.

Pfffffffft. "Ain't" is a staple of the bogan vocabulary.

I don't hear "aren't" or "isn't" much. Most people I know use "--'re not" and "--'s not" instead.

edit: South Aussie, for them what want to know.

yeah this, but I'm from the Midwest...

no offense to anyone at all, but the only people i hear use "ain't" are ghetto people who barely use broken up English as it is..i swear sometimes at McDonalds, to get the point across that i don't want cheese on the burger is harder than doing quantum physics..

I should probably check social demographics at a later date as well.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

I'm also pretty sure that it's a regional thing for the Southwest US, too, but I'll study that at a later date.

Pfffffffft. "Ain't" is a staple of the bogan vocabulary.

I don't hear "aren't" or "isn't" much. Most people I know use "--'re not" and "--'s not" instead.

edit: South Aussie, for them what want to know.

yeah this, but I'm from the Midwest...

no offense to anyone at all, but the only people i hear use "ain't" are ghetto people who barely use broken up English as it is..i swear sometimes at McDonalds, to get the point across that i don't want cheese on the burger is harder than doing quantum physics..

I should probably check social demographics at a later date as well.

yeah, i mean it in no offense what i said, but from my location the only time i ever hear the word "ain't" (which as i understand is a real word) is when it is used in HEAVY slang (massive emphasis on heavy).

Example:

Regular English

"That dog will not cross the road without his/her owner."

Slang (which I heard this the other day. So this is a normal basis thing.)

"Dog ain't crossin if ain't got none"

and that is usually how I hear the word "ain't".

 

[Cavan]

As an Englishman, no I do not say ain't and the only time I say arn't is when I want to say are not :/, there's already a word for "is not" as in "there isn't any real reason to need to say ain't"

But then I speak with a southern accent, you'd be more likely to find it up north where the use the sound "ar" less.

You might also want to make a distinction for what 'you' mean by "British", I get the impression that you're focusing on the English way of speaking and not on Scotland or Wales.

Certain people get touchy when people use "British" to mean "English".

 

[Naheal]

I'm also pretty sure that it's a regional thing for the Southwest US, too, but I'll study that at a later date.

Pfffffffft. "Ain't" is a staple of the bogan vocabulary.

I don't hear "aren't" or "isn't" much. Most people I know use "--'re not" and "--'s not" instead.

edit: South Aussie, for them what want to know.

yeah this, but I'm from the Midwest...

no offense to anyone at all, but the only people i hear use "ain't" are ghetto people who barely use broken up English as it is..i swear sometimes at McDonalds, to get the point across that i don't want cheese on the burger is harder than doing quantum physics..

I should probably check social demographics at a later date as well.

yeah, i mean it in no offense what i said, but from my location the only time i ever hear the word "ain't" (which as i understand is a real word) is when it is used in HEAVY slang (massive emphasis on heavy).

Example:

Regular English

"That dog will not cross the road without his/her owner."

Slang (which I heard this the other day. So this is a normal basis thing.)

"Dog ain't crossin if ain't got none"

and that is usually how I hear the word "ain't".

Now I'm curious. Did you hear "none" or did you hear "noone" (extra beat, not a long o sound).

Also, linguistics is one of those studies where social demographics need to be studied as well. I think someone might have been offended (possibly? I don't know), but, in the context of the question, I doubt that it would be too much of a problem.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

I'm also pretty sure that it's a regional thing for the Southwest US, too, but I'll study that at a later date.

Pfffffffft. "Ain't" is a staple of the bogan vocabulary.

I don't hear "aren't" or "isn't" much. Most people I know use "--'re not" and "--'s not" instead.

edit: South Aussie, for them what want to know.

yeah this, but I'm from the Midwest...

no offense to anyone at all, but the only people i hear use "ain't" are ghetto people who barely use broken up English as it is..i swear sometimes at McDonalds, to get the point across that i don't want cheese on the burger is harder than doing quantum physics..

I should probably check social demographics at a later date as well.

yeah, i mean it in no offense what i said, but from my location the only time i ever hear the word "ain't" (which as i understand is a real word) is when it is used in HEAVY slang (massive emphasis on heavy).

Example:

Regular English

"That dog will not cross the road without his/her owner."

Slang (which I heard this the other day. So this is a normal basis thing.)

"Dog ain't crossin if ain't got none"

and that is usually how I hear the word "ain't".

Now I'm curious. Did you hear "none" or did you hear "noone" (extra beat, not a long o sound).

Also, linguistics is one of those studies where social demographics need to be studied as well. I think someone might have been offended (possibly? I don't know), but, in the context of the question, I doubt that it would be too much of a problem.

I heard "none", as in "nun"

If they studied social demographics in America..dear god it would take them decades to even come close to conceiving any idea on how broken English is when its not formally used. (once again, not trying to be mean, I myself use slang/odd words that make literally no sense if you don't know the tons of background story behind them. So to the average person if they shadowed me throughout the day would think I'm speaking gibberish.)

 

[Escapefromwhatever]

I'm curious if the British Escapists here either use or hear the word "ain't" used by folks from where you're at. I'm also pretty sure that it's a regional thing for the Southwest US, too, but I'll study that at a later date.

I'm really sorry, but since you did post about grammar, please don't end a sentence with "at," OP. Re-examine it. You don't need it. "Where you are" conveys the message just as well as "where you are at," but without the clutter of "at."