LL-L "Syntax" 2002.12.18 (04) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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From: Nicholas Jordan <afyvnj at nottingham.ac.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Syntax" 2002.12.16 (06) [E]

As regards "ain't", whether or not it's entirely relevant, it's interesting
to notice that "ai" could stand for "am I", to which one can add the
commonly-found contracted form of "not", "n't" -> "ain't". Perhaps it was a
fashion of the time to do such things in word play, and this is one that's
stuck. Perhaps worthy of research, since no-one seems to know for sure where
this 'substandard feature' came from.

Another theory would be solved quite simply by thinking about speakers'
laziness. "Am I not", said at speed, is far more difficult than "ain't". Is
it not possible that it is simply that the awkward 'm' dropped out for ease
of speech, and that the 'a' shifted so's as not to produce an uncomfortable
a->i progression, giving us an "ai" sound.

Nick

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From: Kevin McAuliff <kevin_mcauliff at yahoo.com>
Subject: Double negatives

Re: Double negatives and cultural elites

Don't nobody here care nothin 'bout'at.

Kevin McAuliff, Northwest Georgia


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