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"ain't" in Merriam-Webster's and mention of "Black English".

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NewTime
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31 Aug 2017, 11:29 am

There was a petition to remove the reference of "Black English" from Merriam-Webster's definition of "ain't" because it was viewed as offensive and discriminatory.

https://www.change.org/p/promoting-educ ... topic_page

Looks like the petition was successful. References to "Black English" have been removed from Merriam-Webster's entry for "ain't".

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ain't

This is what the entry for "ain't" was before the references to "Black English" were removed.

https://books.google.com/books?id=TAnhe ... 22&f=false



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31 Aug 2017, 12:01 pm

This seems very silly to me. There's nothing wrong with the word "ain't" - it appears in many songs and movies. I think political correctness goes too far.

They must rather focus on the genuinely offensive words (of which there are plenty) rather than words which give character to the English language.


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31 Aug 2017, 5:13 pm

Two issues going on here.

The long standing prejudice against the word "ain't", and the other being this particular mention of "Black English" in a dictionary.

The contempt for the word "ain't" is ridiculous. It's like "isn't" (is plus not) it's (speaking of contractions) just a contraction of the words "am" and "not". Or can be also be a variant of "aren't" (are plus not). The Victorians arbitrarily decided that "ain't" was low class. So on both sides of the Atlantic school kids have been hammered by teachers and parents to not use "ain't". Nothing wrong with the word. In the dialect of Cornwall in southeast England they say the word "baint" ( contraction of 'be' and 'not').

I am all for freeing up English speakers to say "ain't".

But if we must continue to suppress "aint" - what about this Merriam Webster thing?

The problem is "aint" is not unique to Ebonics- the Black dialect of the USA. Its used by Whites throughout the English speaking world on several continents. So linking it to American Blacks exclusively is not exactly accurate.

So as much as this petition smacks of political correctness gone overboard maybe I agree with it -that Merriam Webster should just state that "aint" is considered "nonstandard English" or "not proper educated sounding English" (for the benefit of nonnative speakers who need to know that the word is stigmatized), but that they shouldn't mention any particular ethnic group like Blacks.



NewTime
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31 Aug 2017, 6:20 pm

The petition

Quote:
Most of us have been taught at a young age not to use “ain’t” because it is not proper English. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a reference trusted by millions of people, defines “ain’t” as am not, are not, and is not. Sounds simple enough, but investigate further and you will see that its definition is offensive and prejudiced.

Definition of AIN'T:
do not: does not: did not —used in some varieties of Black English

The definition goes on to state, “although widely disapproved as nonstandard and more common in the habitual speech of the less educated…”
So the question becomes what is Black English, who speaks Black English and how does it correspond to the word, “ain’t”?

Definition of BLACK ENGLISH:

A nonstandard variety of English spoken by some African-Americans —called also Black English vernacular
We, the undersigned, request for Merriam-Webster to modify the definition of the word “ain’t”, removing the reference to Black English and its use by those less educated for the following reasons:

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary's description of “ain’t” states it is used in Black English, spoken by African Americans, and described as a nonstandard language used by those less educated which is offensive and discriminatory.

“Ain’t” is currently one of the top 10% of words searched in the dictionary and used by people from many different ethnicities not just African-Americans.
A word by definition should not be used in a disparaging manner to stereotype or incite prejudice towards a particular group of people.
Allowing even one single word to advocate prejudice will only perpetuate the type of discriminatory behavior that continues to affect African Americans and people who are perceived as less educated!!

We are concerned citizens. Sign this petition today and let your voice be heard!! Together we can impact change to create a positive perspective free from discrimination!! !

“Words used carelessly, as if they did not matter in any serious way, often allowed otherwise well-guarded truths to seep through.”― Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul



NewTime
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01 Sep 2017, 11:20 am

Here are some comments in the Seen or Heard part of the "ain't" entry.

Quote:
REALLY! Merrian-Webster? You define the word "Ain't" as "commonly used in some varieties of Black English" and then follow with an explanation that it is "...most common in the habitual speech of the less educated." WOW! Maybe I am reading into this a little too much - but it just sounds wrong.


Quote:
My kids informed me that "ain't" is a word, so I looked it up in THE dictionary...but I had no idea I would find that it is "used in some varieties of Black English"...like white people don't use this word. I'm feeling some kind of way...and then I was enlightened further that "Black English" is an actual term for the way black people talk...WOW!


Quote:
I guess I might be black from this definition. And I am less educated for using ain't. Good Lord! Now I know where my life went wrong.


Quote:
This definition is making me madder by the second! First of all what is "Black English?" Secondly, where do they teach you that because I certainly have never learned it as a language or anywhere else! Is this the new PC term for Ebonics? Lastly, by definition black = bad, so why not say bad english? Is it "cleaned up" by calling it nonstandard? Or is it infact the way it seems & meant to reflect race/ethnicity thus calling blacks &/or "black english" speakers less educated? How did this discussion make it? And who wrote it?


Quote:
I don't like the part in the definition which says 'more common in the habitual speech of the less educated', which is clearly just reflecting a stereotype. The word 'ain't' has been part of my lexicon, and part of many other people's vocabularies where I come from - among lower, middle and upper classes. I wouldn't write it in a formal situation... but it's clearly part of common dialect that was persecuted by prescriptivism, and definitely not an indicator of lower education levels.


Quote:
#3: : do not : does not : did not —used in some varieties of Black English

That doesn't sound stereotypical at all *rolls eyes*.

Side note: Is there a yellow, brown, green, red, blue, purple, pink, or orange English? If so, please inform the masses.


Quote:
Is this the Sacalia definition of Ain't? "used in some varieties of Black English " "Although widely disapproved as nonstandard and more common in the habitual speech of the less educated..." Webster revision on page 17 for racisit definitions....thank you.


Quote:
Americans always trying to divide races with stupid subliminal messages like "Black English" and then linking it to being less educated. Truth of the matter is, the word was/is highly used in the southern states and spread throughout the country with the migration of blacks after the Emancipation. Who talk early black americans english ??? So how in the hell is it "BLACK" english.........SMMFH



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01 Sep 2017, 12:16 pm

I am glad it was removed because its use in black english is not a the defining use of the word.

Wow. Black English is offensive now? I thought is was a point of black pride. Showing my age again. :(


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01 Sep 2017, 3:35 pm

Copious use of the word ain't on British TV.

I associate the word more with the South of England.


Yes I know British acting is dire. I do not watch this show. I typed Cockney Aint into youtube



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01 Sep 2017, 3:43 pm

ain't words funny


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02 Sep 2017, 9:27 am

Ain't That A Shame? is one of my favorite songs.



NewTime
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02 Sep 2017, 10:18 am

naturalplastic wrote:
Two issues going on here.

The long standing prejudice against the word "ain't", and the other being this particular mention of "Black English" in a dictionary.

The contempt for the word "ain't" is ridiculous. It's like "isn't" (is plus not) it's (speaking of contractions) just a contraction of the words "am" and "not". Or can be also be a variant of "aren't" (are plus not). The Victorians arbitrarily decided that "ain't" was low class. So on both sides of the Atlantic school kids have been hammered by teachers and parents to not use "ain't". Nothing wrong with the word. In the dialect of Cornwall in southeast England they say the word "baint" ( contraction of 'be' and 'not').

I am all for freeing up English speakers to say "ain't".

But if we must continue to suppress "aint" - what about this Merriam Webster thing?

The problem is "aint" is not unique to Ebonics- the Black dialect of the USA. Its used by Whites throughout the English speaking world on several continents. So linking it to American Blacks exclusively is not exactly accurate.

So as much as this petition smacks of political correctness gone overboard maybe I agree with it -that Merriam Webster should just state that "aint" is considered "nonstandard English" or "not proper educated sounding English" (for the benefit of nonnative speakers who need to know that the word is stigmatized), but that they shouldn't mention any particular ethnic group like Blacks.


"amn't" was the original contraction of "am not", still used in Scotland and Ireland. The word "amn't" got reduced to "an't" and then that was altered to "ain't". "aren't" also got reduced in some dialects to "an't" which became "ain't". Then people later started using "ain't" incorrectly to contract "is not" and the word became stigmatized.