MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Americans: Language question, please?

Americans: Language question, please?

posted 2 years ago by Hybrid66 (1516)
5 replies | jump to latest

Q: How much of US society says "ain't" (Short for 'is not' or 'am not'?)?

I've always heard Americans in films, TV shows and songs say this? Many famous.

Is there a certain demographic that says it in certain circumstances as slang/street talk?

It actually was commonly spoken in 18th & 19th century England and was heard recently in Tolkien's LotR Orcs. Even today, many Londoners still say it.

My OH (from south London) says she isn't familiar with it, even though ironically she has been to different parts of the US about 15-20 times?

[–] ItsGood2BeRight (3879) 2 years ago

I ain't da one!

[–] jriley555 (8557) 2 years ago

Generally uneducated people. It's common probably throughout the country, but more particularly in the South and Midwest. That's just my impression, based upon living in most regions of the US at one time or another.

[–] InquiringMind (2272) 2 years ago

If you are speaking/writing in a formal style than you use "am not", "are not" if you ain't talkin' all formal n' shit, then you don't. Y'all just say "ain't". Ya dig?

[–] WandererFromYs (2406) 2 years ago

When I was in school my teachers used to say “ain’t ain’t a word”. A contraction is supposed to be 2 words pushed together. Ain’t isn’t based on anything.

So it’s improper English, and we are taught that it’s improper. But I think most people still say it from time to time in an informal setting.

[–] Hybrid66 (1516) 2 years ago

Thanks to all! Interesting.