Ain T Used To Be Analysis

Decent Essays
Annotated Bibliography
Diamond, Linda Eve. "Ain 't: Used to Be." Vocabula Review. N.p., 05 Apr. 2010. Web.
Linda Eve Diamond is a self-employed writer and the author of nine books on topics ranging from poetry to business and listening skills. Prior to writing freelance, she spent fifteen developing and delivering corporate training programs in the areas of personal performance, managerial skills, business writing, and interpersonal communications. In this article, Diamond discuses that in the eighteenth century the word ain’t was accepted just like any of the other contractions. However, it all changed in the nineteenth century when the people who studied and wrote about grammar decided to change the rules to be similar to Latin. Even though
…show more content…
In this article, Stevens starts off by informing his audience that the contraction ain’t is at the moment very disapproved in language. Just like other author, Stevens mentions the word ain’t has little evidence of when it was first recorded. Stevens argues, we cannot be confident of the time when the contraction ain’t was formed. Yet, probably it has been around much longer than most dictionary indicate. Stevens discusses why grammarians are against using the word ain’t. according to his research it was developed based on mistake beliefs. Stevens explains, the word ain’t continues to be protested, because we have the words isn’t and aren’t. He goes on to explain the word aren’t cannot be used in all three present tense form of the verb to be. However, ain’t can be used for the verb to be and to have. Stevens mentions the English language is always inclined to reduce complexity yet, ain’t continues to be …show more content…
He is a professor in the Department of German, Scandinavian and Dutch at the University of Minnesota, where he has taught courses on the history of all the Germanic languages and literatures, folklore, mythology, lexicography, European structuralism, and Russian formalism. Liberman explains the origin of the word ain’t is derived and ties with “hain’t”. Then later turned into a universal substitute for the contraction of the verb be and have. The word ain’t can be declared as vulgar, slangy and informal. Liberman argues, that the word ain’t is a useful form, but it will continue to be rejected by grammarians. The word ain’t has been attacked by grammarians since 1788. Liberman explains, the word ain’t is more widely used today than ever before. It is heard from almost every level of

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    After reading the article by Kyle Wiens, I actually felt quite troubled, unproportionally so for its harmless subject matter. Based on the article, Wiens almost seems to have a haughty air about him, in my opinion. I cannot exactly pinpoint at which particluar section of the article leads me to have this impression, but I believe just the general idea of the article that is not hiring qualified people based on their grammar skills), and the fact that Wiens is a self-proclaimed "grammar stickler" is what I find irksome. While I know that good grammar is extremely important, I also know that grammar, in any language, is arbitrary. So when I read about people placing quite a lot of value into grammar, I frankly find it annoying and find said people to be overly condescending.…

    • 490 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    They Say I Say Analysis

    • 2196 Words
    • 9 Pages

    In the book, “They Say, I Say” chapter fourteen discusses the necessity for tertiary education. The fundamental focus of chapter fourteen is to determine whether or not higher education offers the bang for your buck. The chapter initiates disputes beginning with the article, “Are Colleges Worth The Price of Admission?” by Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus. This article conveys a controversial issue of the rising cost of admissions and the descending quality of college education.…

    • 2196 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Ain 'T No Makin' It Analysis

    • 2387 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Synopsis In 1987, Jay MacLeod brought the housing project of Clarendon Heights to our attention with his initial publishing of Ain’t No Makin’ It. With the first edition, we meet two distinct groups of boys: the Hallway Hangers and the Brothers. Eight years after introducing us to these two distinct groups, Jay Macleod makes his way back to Clarendon Heights. With the coming of the second edition, we are updated on the lives of the Hallway Hangers and the Brothers.…

    • 2387 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Great Essays

    That Was Then, This Is Now is a coming of age novel. Through constant trials and tribulations of life, Bryon learns that there is a limit to the loyalty he can provide to others. Bryon suffers through pain and problems that plague many readers as they grow into maturity. In this time period, gang violence was prominent.…

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    1. Give some 2-3 examples of negative speech patterns that you use. What is going through your mind when you are thinking this way? Two examples of negative speech patters that I use is “I am terrible at this subject” and “I cannot do this”.…

    • 209 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Often referred to a "found" poem, William Carlos Williams's piece, “This Is Just To Say,” is said to be an apologetic note left for a loved one. Williams tries to disguise the incident within the poem as something minuscule and nonchalant but deeper analysis reveals this poem is an apology for a graver adulterous crime rather than just eating some plums. It’s title and overall structure sets the initial aura of nonchalance and casualness. Although simple, the diction allows the reader to recognize an intimate connection between speaker and reader as well as setting a sensual tone as he describes the plums. Further, biblical allusions connect the plums to the forbidden fruit making them a symbol for adultery.…

    • 997 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Throughout the years, there have been several events and people who have impacted the development of the English language. One major event that impacted the English language was the migration of early English settlers to America. Instead of one single person making a huge impact it was a colony. The scholar Leonard Adolf gives a detailed report of the Pilgrims and their interactions as they came to America in his article “Squanto's Role In Pilgrim Diplomacy”. The outcome of Pilgrims coming to America was that the people and things they encountered affected the English language.…

    • 1218 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Emily Dickinson is well known for her unusual poems, however during her life she wasn’t famous till after she passed away when her family started to find 1000’s of her poems stuff in tiny spaces all around the house. Dickinson’s writing wasn’t well understood during her time, she had a uniqueness that was ahead of her time; she had an amazing use of symbols, capitalism, themes and tones in her writing which make reading her poems so intriguing. While growing up she wasn’t the average women, she had her own thoughts and beliefs which is something I love about her which brings me to one of my favorite poems by her: “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” I 'm Nobody!…

    • 1131 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    John Simon, the author of “Why Good English Is Good for You”, addresses his arguments mainly towards people who do not employ the use of proper English and those who shape their minds; Simon engages certain rhetorical choices in order to prove that good English is tremendously beneficial to all individuals. Having initially written this article for Esquire magazine, Simon was able to reach a broad audience to communicate his ideas. Throughout the majority of the article, the conversation is directed towards those who do not agree with Simon’s viewpoint. The author’s goal in writing this particular article is to show that using proper English is helpful in multiple ways: good English is achieved through commitment and self-discipline, and it…

    • 1284 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Big Bang Gang This story takes place in the 1980s at the Hood. Alex just got released from juvie for owning a gun without a licence with his buddy Matthew, Wrench, Dillon, and a new edition to the Big Bang group,Trevon. Trevon Is Mrs. Brown's son, and Mrs. Brown Is the neighbor of the boys parents. The boys like to call themselves the BBG.…

    • 646 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    So Mote It Be Analysis

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages

    So Mote It Be So mote it be, like Amen, is a customary term to end a prayer, close a meeting, ending to a spell or ritual, and to simply be in agreeance with someone. Utilizing the phrase implies both a hope and a wish for the realization of a manifestation. It is an archaic Saxon verb which translates into may or might, and has its roots in Old English. The term “so mote it be” dates to 1390 A.D. from the oldest Freemason document, known as Regiuis Poem.…

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    172-173). I support Crystal’s argument. Texting has been a part of my life, as well as my peers’ and family members’ since I was in elementary school, and not once have I witnessed abbreviations or other “text language” in anything but text messages. It is rare that I even see “text language” in text messages. This is likely due to the change in technological times.…

    • 984 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Vygotsky (1962) argued that “to interpret the sinking coefficient of egocentric speech as an indication that this kind of speech is dying out is like saying that the child stops counting when he ceases to use his fingers and starts adding in his head.” (p.135). Discuss and evaluate this proposal using research evidence to support your arguments. (1694)…

    • 1752 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One group who cringes at the thought of the improper use of the English language while the other thrives on embracing the evolution of words. As the battle rages on one must ask themselves is it a battle worth fighting? Is proper use of the English language all that important? While some may disagree, I would argue that proper…

    • 958 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    A feature of English that makes it different compared with all other languages is its global spread” (David Crystal). This quote from David Crystal expresses how much is English dominant and it could to the term Linguistic Imperialism. At first I would like to define, what linguistic imperialism means and how it is explained, then I would like to define some other important terms connected with linguistic imperialism. Linguistic imperialism, sometimes called language imperialism, can be explained as the transfer of a dominant language to other people.…

    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Decent Essays

Related Topics