Say It Ain't So:An Examination of the Etymology and Controversy
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Definition: Etymology: The OED described "ain't" as "regional "The paradigm of the verb ‘to be’ in West and nonstandard." The word is a form Germanic languages in general shows of the word "be," which means "without forms derived from three unrelated Indo- Say It Ain't So: required complement: to have or take European bases" (be, v.). place in the world of fact, to exist, 1667 A. Bailey Spightful Sister iii. i. 26 An Analysis of the occur, happen." "Look you, Sir, I an't for complementical The Merriam-Webster dictionary words; but here Stands the case." Etymology and the defines "ain't" as "1: am not : are not : is 1785 J. O'Keeffe Peeping Tom of Coventry not2 : have not : has not." i. iii. 10 "Now, ain't I an old chaunter?" Colloquial Usage of "Ain't" Evolved from "an't" to "ain't" in mid-1700s, approximately. Who says "ain't?" Professor Anders Orbeck, of Michigan A B B E Y J O H N S O N "In England, "ain't is considered State College in his lectures on the nonstandard and illiterate, since it is history of the English language, explains used by lower class speakers ...." "in that am no been syncopated into the AmE ain't as a negative contraction of form amn't. Assimilation to an n't foll the be is associated with the speech of simplification of the long consonant middle level education (cf. Malmstrom might have been accom lengthening of 1963: 285)" (Pilar). the vowel to Early Modem [ae:], from "A large majority of the high school which diphthong would develop What's the controversy? graduates in all areas say 'ain't I.' Of the (Stevens) In Dennis E. Baron's "Grammar and Good Taste: cultivated informants, about 20% in According to the OED, an't and ain't Reforming the American Language," he New England, about 35% in the Middle possibly represent "am not," rather than describes the opinions of Henry Alford, who and South Atlantic States, and about the 2nd singular plural. An't and ain't was dean of Canterbury and editor of the 73% in the North Central States use ain't were reanalyzed as equalling "are not." Greek New Testament. Apparently, "Alford I, although no college graduate in the Because of this, "aren't" superseded "an't" opposes 'ain't,' even though it is often used by Upper Midwest does so" (Malmstrom). in standard English. educated persons, partly because it is proscribed ... and also because it is ill-formed. As a contraction, it bears no resemblance to 'am not' or 'are not,' and therefore he claims it may not be used legitimately to replace these phrases." According to David Crystal, when "ain't" appeared in the third edition of the New International - Webster 3, there was 51 responses. 35 said no. 16 said yes. "lexicographical controversy" because "not condemning such substandard usages as 'ain't,' and by failing to identify colloquialisms Speculation: through the use of a separate label" put Webster 3 at fault. On the other hand, there "Ain't" is associated with the south, were also "many merits of the new edition, however is used more often in the such as its fresh approach to definition... northern states. But why? As we know, [which] received hardly any attention in the "ain't" is associated and used most popular press" (Crystal). often by those of lower education In William and Mary Morris' Harper Dictionary levels. Because the south is often of Contemporary Usage, a panel of consultants considered uneducated, "ain't" is were asked "Would you accept 'I ain't the least associated with the region. But why bit interested'?" In writing, 96% said no, but in does the north use "ain't" Conclusion: speech 40.7% said yes. "It should be noted that more? Consider the southern drawl. Although associated with the south, several of the respondents who approved the Those in the south speak slowly as they the word "ain't" is used more often in use of 'ain't' in writing indicated that they were speak in their drawl. Meanwhile, the the northern states by those without a referring to its use in fictional dialogue to north is full of fast talkers. Because of college degree. Despite the establish character." this, the north is more likely to use controversy surrounding it, "ain't" is a H.W. Fowler, in his book Modern English contractions so that they don't need to word, as proven by its etymological Usage,written in 1926, states that "A(i)n't is slow down their words. Of course, this derivation. Despite this, my personal merely colloquial & as used for 'isn't' is an is all speculation and has no evidence opinion is that the word should not uneducated blunder & serves no useful to support it. be used in formal writing or speech, purpose. But it is a pity that 'a(i)n't' for 'am Because this word is so controversial but rather limited to use in not,' being a natural contraction & supplying and its use in writing and speech is met characterization in narratives. real want, should shock us as though tarred with such negativity, as well as serving My assumption is that as this word with the same brush. Though 'I'm not' serves no necessary purpose, as the English continues to face controversy, it will well enough in statements, there is no language already contains words of the eventually cease to exist in the abbreviation but 'a(i)n't I?' for 'am I not?' or 'am same meaning, "ain't" will die out from English language. not I?'" the English language in the future. .