Thread: Is it rude to use "ain't"?

Originally Posted by basurero

Originally Posted by Atkln

cpcddh, thnks fr th lnks! Th sts r rlly ntrstng.

Brml, smth -- lks lke smthng wrttn in hbrw

Так лучше!

Глсные не нужны. Они загрязняют язык.

Я думаю, что и согласные тоже не нужны!!! Действительно, зачем загрязнять язык какими-то там буквами!!

В иврите кстати нету гласных

Если вы имеете в виду буквы, то гласных букв не бывает. Только звуки. В иврите гласные звуки есть, но отображаются в специфических случаях, и то не буквенно.

Originally Posted by capecoddah

Barm', pronounce 'smth' out loud to people who use it, they usually stop. Just dont try to do it when you have a cold and a moustache, you'll have to wash your face.

Hmm ... When I see "smth" I pronounce it as a normal "something". Do native speakers really tend to pronounce it exactly as it is written? I think the point is to write less and since pronouncing the full word is easier to pronounce "something" while spelling "smth" is a reasonable approach.

Correct. No one would ever try to say a word without vowels.

In dictionaries they use smth insetad of "something", because they save hundreds of pages that way.

OK, but nobody has answered yet about "wanna". Is it the same case as здрасьте "zdras'te" in Russian -- everybody says it but nobody writes it?

Originally Posted by Ataklena

OK, but nobody has answered yet about "wanna". Is it the same case as здрасьте "zdras'te" in Russian -- everybody says it but nobody writes it?

wanna - это "хочу", по-моему

Originally Posted by Dimitri

Originally Posted by Ataklena

OK, but nobody has answered yet about "wanna". Is it the same case as здрасьте "zdras'te" in Russian -- everybody says it but nobody writes it?

wanna - это "хочу", по-моему

She wasn't saying wanna means здрасьте.

People do write "wanna" and "gonna". But it is informal and isn't used in proper writing. I use them in e-mails to friends and stuff.

TATY, thank you!
And what if a foreigner says "wanna"? Is it acceptable?

Originally Posted by Ataklena

TATY, thank you!
And what if a foreigner says "wanna"? Is it acceptable?

It's just the mumbled, smashed together phrase "want to?" So I would imagine so, just don't write it down for something. Example:
-Whaddya you doing tonight?
-Oh, nothing.
-Wanna see a movie?
-Ok, sure!
-Wanna invite Susan and Phil, too? Or should we go alone?
-That's fine. I'll call them later.

Thanks, Barmaley! Now I get it.

Originally Posted by Ataklena

OK, thanks.
Does it sound uneducated when it's used in songs?

I agree with KWatts that although not rude per se, it does sound uneducated in general conversation. However, context is everything. In some kinds of songs, particularly blues, rock, country and folk music, "ain't" would reflect a culture that valued other things more highly than "correct" English usage. In this setting the usage is appropriate.

But a blues song isn't the same thing as conversing with an elder.

~j~

By the way, what about "wanna" and "..don't.. no more"?

wanna is Want to said fast, like barmaley said.

''...don't... no more'' isn't proper english. A few African-American people use that here in America to act 'gangster'

I remember an funny story about "ain't" (I could make some grammar mistakes, so, if you see any mistakes, you may corect them )

A girl tell her female friend:
--Look, I ain't going to the party no-night, I'm having a headache.
--I see, but don't you remember what our English teacher told us? You should avoid using "ain't" You should say "I'm not going to the patry, He's not going to the patry they're not going to the patry". You got it?
--Ok, I did, but If no one is going to the party, what is the party for?

no-night? I think you mean ' tonight '
I don't use the word 'ain't'. Rednecks here use it a lot, along with "...don't...no more"

Originally Posted by Riko

''...don't... no more'' isn't proper english. A few African-American people use that here in America to act 'gangster'

I think you mean "gangsta."

I don't use the word 'ain't' to me, rednecks here use it a lot, along with "...don't...no more"

I don't understand the first part of that sentence. Are you sure you ain't no redneck?

Someone should post some Jeff Foxworthy stuff here; it would be really great for Russian and English-speakers alike...

Originally Posted by Barmaley

Originally Posted by Riko

''...don't... no more'' isn't proper english. A few African-American people use that here in America to act 'gangster'

I think you mean "gangsta."

I don't use the word 'ain't' to me, rednecks here use it a lot, along with "...don't...no more"

I don't understand the first part of that sentence. Are you sure you ain't no redneck?

Someone should post some Jeff Foxworthy stuff here; it would be really great for Russian and English-speakers alike...

yes, I mean 'gangsta'

I meant that I don't use 'ain't' I just didn't put a period behind ain't. But I must be drunk. Why the hell did I put 'to me'?

I can't be a redneck. Who heard of a French redneck?

Originally Posted by Riko

I can't be a redneck. Who heard of a French redneck?

At one point there were neither French Canadians nor French fries -- but they persevered and solved those problems! You can do it!

Originally Posted by Barmaley

Originally Posted by Riko

I can't be a redneck. Who heard of a French redneck?

At one point there were neither French Canadians nor French fries -- but they persevered and solved those problems! You can do it!

haha

Originally Posted by Barmaley

At one point there were neither French Canadians nor French fries -- but they persevered and solved those problems! You can do it!

Now there are Free Canadians and Freedom Fries.

I thought a French-Canadian-Louisiana-redneck was Cajun...
Movie reference: Southern Comfort, 1981

"wanna-be gangsta" = white kids from the suburbs that listen to rap, talk 'bout dey hommies an' chizzillin wit a fo-tie. They also are sweating their SATs, drive a car that was a gift from Mommy and/or Daddy and look as foolish as Wanna-be greasers, hippies, disco-types, punks and goth kids in earlier times.
Music reference: "White Punks on Dope", the Tubes