#1  
Old June 21, 2009, 01:24 PM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
Ain't and 'cause

I've heard in songs "ain't" instead "I'm not , he's not, etc." and "cause" instead of "because". I'd like to know if it's not formal English or it is slang, such as "wanna" or "gonna".

Thanks
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old June 21, 2009, 02:06 PM
Jessica's Avatar
Jessica Jessica is offline
...
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PA
Posts: 8,187
Native Language: English, Chinese
Jessica is on a distinguished road
well, I'm not sure if it's slang, but I know Ain't isn't really proper English, and well, my English teacher told me not to use it in writing
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old June 21, 2009, 02:10 PM
hermit hermit is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: scotsburn, nova scotia
Posts: 617
Native Language: english
hermit is on a distinguished road
slang

hi irmamar - there's a saying in english - " 'ain't' ain't in the dictionary"

the use of "ain't" often imparts a sense of rural speech, inner city speech,
or other "flavor", sometimes humorous.

so, yes, it's like gonna/wanna - a contraction much used but technically
incorrect.

hermit
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old June 21, 2009, 02:44 PM
Tomisimo's Avatar
Tomisimo Tomisimo is offline
Davidísimo
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: North America
Posts: 5,664
Native Language: American English
Tomisimo will become famous soon enoughTomisimo will become famous soon enough
'cause (written with an apostrophe) is extremely common in spoken English although it would be less common in formal registers (a presentation, business setting, university lecture, etc). ain't is also quite common but is used more in the informal registers (rural people, auto mechanics, construction workers, inner city etc.). It is also really common in songs for some reason. It would never be used in the more formal registers.

Both of these are used in spoken English, but not written English, unless it is written conversation intended to evoke the registers where you would use those words in spoken language.
__________________
If you find something wrong with my Spanish, please correct it!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old June 21, 2009, 03:39 PM
brute's Avatar
brute brute is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: en el norte de Inglaterra
Posts: 526
Native Language: British English
brute is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomisimo View Post
'cause (written with an apostrophe) is extremely common in spoken English although it would be less common in formal registers (a presentation, business setting, university lecture, etc). ain't is also quite common but is used more in the informal registers (rural people, auto mechanics, construction workers, inner city etc.). It is also really common in songs for some reason. It would never be used in the more formal registers..

In England most people will sometimes use "'cause or cos" and "ain't" in everyday speech: "Ain't it" is often shortened to "innit", although it is not usually written.
In Northern England people sometimes say "Summat" and "Nowt" for "Something and Nothing". My mother-in-law once said to me "Your daughter has just said "SUMMAT". I replied: "its better than saying "NOWT" INNIT?"

Both of these are used in spoken English, but not written English, unless it is written conversation intended to evoke the registers where you would use those words in spoken language
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old June 21, 2009, 08:25 PM
bobjenkins's Avatar
bobjenkins bobjenkins is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: España próximamente??
Posts: 2,923
Native Language: Inglés
bobjenkins is on a distinguished road
Hola Irmamar

Los niños aquí dicen, "ain't ain't a word and I ain't gunna say it."

Ain't y 'cause son jargon/slang/argot.

A veces ellos los usamos cuando estan hablamos.
__________________
"There´s always money in the banana stand michael!"
--george bluthe sir
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old June 21, 2009, 09:05 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
No matter the arguments to the contrary, ain't is a word (has been since the 1770s) and it is in the dictionary. Its usage is considered non-standard in every dictionary I checked, but it is used in the everyday speech of most people. I personally never use it, but everyone else in my family does. "Resistance is futile," as the Borg would have us believe.

You need to be familiar with colloquial speech, as you'll be exposed to it quite frequently on most streets in America. There are ways to write colloquial speech, as well, but you would never expect to see it in formal writing. We do speak the language differently than the way it is formally taught - just like Spanish, in spoken form, doesn't quite match the written form.

Nuff's been said 'bout how we speak, but I think song lyrics push the envelope just a tad.

Last edited by Rusty; June 21, 2009 at 09:14 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old June 22, 2009, 12:40 AM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
Yes, I saw "ain't" in the dictionary.

I want to know colloquial speech, but I want to know that it is colloquial one, to avoid writing in a bad way. I prefer writing in formal English, by the moment at least.

I don't understand everything your wrote, Rusty. What is "the Borg"? I didn't find "nuff" or "bout" either. Thanks

Brute, I hadn't ever heard the words you said. I'll have to study them.

Thanks everybody
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old June 22, 2009, 10:12 AM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
The Borg is an alien 'race' from the 'Star Trek: Next Generation' TV series.

nuff's = enough has (colloquial pronunciation and spelling, with a contraction)
about = 'bout (colloquial pronunciation)

Last edited by Rusty; June 22, 2009 at 10:14 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old June 22, 2009, 10:16 AM
Fazor's Avatar
Fazor Fazor is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Middle of Ohio, USA
Posts: 626
Native Language: American English
Fazor is on a distinguished road
How 'bout "y'all"? It's often seen cavorting around with "ain't".
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
ain't, apostrophe, non-standard, register, because

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:46 PM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X