April 01, 2003, 08:37
KallehAm I not?
In another thread CJ said, "Ain't gonna happen", when talking about men becoming ballerinos.
"Ain't" is such a detested word here in the U.S. Did it come from "am I not?" Was it ever considered correct English? Or, has it always been incorrect?
April 01, 2003, 09:48
arnie Dictionary.com contains a usage note from the AHD which pretty well answers your questions.
There's also a scholarly treatise on the use of
ain't at
http://www.hfac.uh.edu/English/classes/GU4322/items/aint.htmlApril 01, 2003, 17:47
Morgan"Ain't gonna happen" is one of those phrases, wrong or right, that has crept into our language. I notice it is the "
ain't" that has you upset. Does that mean you accept the "
gonna"?
April 02, 2003, 12:44
wordnerdInteresting.
By the AHD usage note arnie cites,
ain't never achieved the acceptance into standard English that was bestowed upon other contractions. But
etymology on-line says that
ain't, meaning "am not", "
was in proper use until it began to be used as a generic contraction for
are not, is not, etc., early 19c., which led to it being banished from correct English."
April 02, 2003, 14:40
Kallehquote:
I notice it is the "ain't" that has you upset. Does that mean you accept the "gonna"?
Oh, no, Morgan, I am not upset at all. I know that phrase has crept into our language. It just made me
think about whether
ain't was ever completely acceptable.