British English and "ain't"

[Naheal]

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."

That's proper grammar, mate. It's a casual question and is accepted sentence construction.

 

[Cavan]

I was thinking a similar thing SuperMse although it's not really important. Naheal it's not an example of incorrect grammar, it's an example of weak English.

How badly some people speak actually has a reverse effect, so that those people find it difficult/impossible to understand people who speak English correctly.

Many examples of this are to be had by people like me on holiday in America "whew, don't'cha 'no how'ta speak English boy?"

 

[Naheal]

I was thinking a similar thing SuperMse although it's not really important.

How badly some people speak actually has a reverse effect, so that those people find it difficult/impossible to understand people who speak English correctly.

Many examples of this are to be had by people like me on holiday in America "whew, don't'cha 'no how'ta speak English boy?"

That's a dialect difference and you're speaking to an idiot in that case. Considering the frequency in which that appears, though, it would be safe to say that it's proper construction.

 

[Cavan]

I'm willing to admit that I have an accent, but yes the people who say things like that generally are quite stupid.

 

[The Stonker]

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.

It might sound silly... but it is nothing compared to all of the stuff that Americans messu p.
And no, I've never heard an English person use "ain't".

 

[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.

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?

Kind of. There is the wide spread habit of shortening words as much as possible (if we could reduce words to single phonemes we'd be happy as pigs in shit) but most Aussie accents also tend to string all the words together (to the non-Australian ear) as well as only infering half the phonemes rather than actually saying them... and when no-one is looking we slip in extra vowels.

 

[Naheal]

and when no-one is looking we slip in extra vowels.

...that explains why the Japanese word for Australia's so fucked up.

 

[airplanedude550]

I (without trying to sound like a stereotypical British snob) prefer to say, "Are not," as opposed to "ain't".
1.) It just sounds better.
2.) "Ain't" almost sounds like a squirrel getting raped. (sorry for the colorful analogy)

 

[Naheal]

I'm willing to admit that I have an accent, but yes the people who say things like that generally are quite stupid.

Admitting that you have an accent is like admitting you have a head attached to your shoulders.

 

[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."

That's proper grammar, mate. It's a casual question and is accepted sentence construction.

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/ending-prepositions.aspx

While I enjoy colloquialisms, "it was casual" does not exclude using "at" to end a sentence. That'll get a grammar Nazi to your door.

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/ending-prepositions.aspx

I can get a more reputable source if you like, but this sums it up nicely. I am not the only person who thinks ending a sentence on "at" is awful.

EDIT: I don't want to hijack your thread. If you'd like to continue this, please do so in PMs. I'm not angry, just to let you know.

 

[dlsevern]

I'm from Indiana and we use ain't all the time, not everyone but a lot of us do.

 

[Naheal]

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."

That's proper grammar, mate. It's a casual question and is accepted sentence construction.

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/ending-prepositions.aspx

While I enjoy colloquialisms, "it was casual" does not exclude using "at" to end a sentence. That'll get a grammar Nazi to your door.

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/ending-prepositions.aspx

I can get a more reputable source if you like, but this sums it up nicely. I am not the only person who thinks ending a sentence on "at" is awful.

Hi. I'm a linguist. Nice to meet you. I study sentence construction, situational and regional variations in language use, and etymology. After more than a cursory examination of internet language use, it's easy to see that typical language use on the internet is akin to verbal speech. While in a written format, you would be correct, that, quite simply, does not apply here.

So, really, while I understand where you're coming from with a written format, this isn't exactly the best of places to argue proper preposition usage. Quit being stubborn and just accept it. If you'll notice, I'm being consistent with what I'm stating and how I'm stating it. That's the importance of the language use here.

Again, kindly remove your hat, Mr. Nazi.

Edit: I would enjoy continuing this and hit reply prior to your edit. Probably PMs would be the best bet.

 

[deadxero]

Aint isn't just regional in the US. It's used but the igrnoarnt/uneducated across the country. It is one of a myriad of ways in which we butcher the english language.

Wow do dat make me sound like uh asshole don't it?

 

[gl1koz3]

I'm not British, and I always say "ain't". Also use "armor" etc. The shorter, the better. No other rules.

For that matter, why haven't we still switched from "you" to "u" etc. Typing the full text is a waste when bytes and time is on the count these days.

 

[Diligent]

I live in Vancouver, Canada and it's used sometimes; however it's not really a part of our dialect but rather some people just choose to say it while others do not

I'm going to second that for Canada (Toronto area). As far as I know there isn't really any difference in dialect between BC and Ontario. Most people I know however say it somewhat ironically, like if they're purposefully being comedic and dumbing down a sentence.
EDIT: Just want to make it clear that I don't think using the word is stupid, or you are stupid for using it regularly.

 

[Adventurer2626]

I have a pet hypothesis that it's a contraction for "am not" in say "I am not" = "I ain't." Problem is it's used instead of isn't and aren't as well. It's the overlord of contractions!

 

[CrystalShadow]

Hmm. I've heard this on television, but I've never come across anyone that uses "ain't"

To me, it is associated with cultural stereotypes of certain parts of the US. Beyond that, I've never come across it.

(I've lived in Australia and England, for what it's worth)

 

[Naheal]

I have a pet hypothesis that it's a contraction for "am not" in say "I am not" = "I ain't." Problem is it's used instead of isn't and aren't as well. It's the overlord of contractions!

It's just a variant conjugation of the verb "to be." That verb's pretty fucked up anyway, so don't bother trying to figure it out.

 

[Adventurer2626]

That's what makes linguistics so fun to mess with though. ^_~

Edit: @Naheal: I'm an amateur linguistic at best.

 

[Naheal]

That's what makes linguistics so fun to mess with though. ^_~

Are you also a linguist?