Ain't and 'cause

[irmamar]

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

[Jessica]

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

[hermit]

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

[Tomisimo]

'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.

[brute]

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

'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

[bobjenkins]

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.

[Rusty]

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.

[irmamar]

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

[Rusty]

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)

[Fazor]

How 'bout "y'all"? It's often seen cavorting around with "ain't".

[irmamar]

OK, I see, thanks.

And what does "cavorting around" mean? Brincar alrededor?

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by irmamar

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

Just as somebody said me, I shouldn't use much the idioms or slangs, because they are not correct in the usages into of the English, time before I used the slang ain't, isn't, aren't, they're, you're between others, but as the people started to says me, that I shouldn't use them, therefore I lift to use them so much, sometimes I use them, but at most not I use them, ain't is a slang, it meaning I'm not.

I hope that you can understand me.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

Just as somebody said me, I shouldn't use much the idioms or slangs, because they are not correct in the usages into of the English, time before I used the slang ain't, isn't, aren't, they're, you're between others, but as the people started to says me, that I shouldn't use them, therefore I lift to use them so much, sometimes I use them, but at most not I use them, ain't is a slang, it meaning I'm not.

I hope that you can understand me.

I don't want to use them either. But I think it's necessary to know them, because when you are listening a conversation, you're able to understand what they're saying. Or, for example, when you're listening a song, these words are often used.

[hermit]

"how 'bout y'all" is widely used in the southern parts of the u.s., where
rural speech dominates everyday conversation. at the same time, it
is not used in print - unless expressly to convey the vernacular of a particular region.

by the way, "ain't" IS in the dictionary, contrary to the saying that i quoted above, and will be cited as a colloquialism, and as such, not
the "King's English".

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by hermit

"how 'bout y'all" is widely used in the southern parts of the u.s., where
rural speech dominates everyday conversation. at the same time, it
is not used in print - unless expressly to convey the vernacular of a particular region.

by the way, "ain't" IS in the dictionary, contrary to the saying that i quoted above, and will be cited as a colloquialism, and as such, not
the "King's English".

The problem with these words is that, when you're listening to a conversation, you're not able to distinguish them if you're not used to hear them. If I'm listening, for instance, "I am not", surely I'll understand better than "ain't". I think it's the same if an English speaker heard:

¿Anda's estao? instead of
¿Dónde has estado?

When I'm talking with foreigner people in Spanish, I try to speak slowly, to avoid these problems. But when I've asked an English to speak slowly, I think he didn't understand me or maybe English people don't know to speak in this way, because he's gone on speaking so fast...

[chileno]

Originally Posted by irmamar

OK, I see, thanks.

And what does "cavorting around" mean? Brincar alrededor?

¿Huasos?

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by chileno

¿Huasos?

¡Hola Huaso! Do you know it?

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by irmamar

And what does "cavorting around" mean? Brincar alrededor?

Cavorting around with = play/joke around with = tontear o retozar (jugar alegremente)

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Cavorting around with = play/joke around with = tontear o retozar (jugar alegremente)

OK, Rusty. Thanks.

[brute]

Originally Posted by Rusty

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)

Borg should be in the other languages (alien tongues) section under Klingon