Why do people say "dat" instead of "that"?

Question

....and worse even....they spell it that (dat) way too. Sounds and looks so uneducated...almost looks like they're trying to show the world how stupid they are. Not very becoming....is it?

To prprincesshottie12:
You "juss" earned 2 points and proved my point and beyond by leaving such an idiotic response. Will you be teaching your children to talk that way too? Poor kids.

To Stephen:
Again...you prove my point. Did you drop out of school at an early age? And the picture is an aviter...not really me...dumbass.

Has anyone noticed that most of those who agree with me have big stupid glasses too? It's a typical sign of intelligence. Aren't they trendy? Sexy too. Except for Stephen. He has silly little glasses with blue tinted lenses. Didn't they go out with Duran Duran?....LMAO!

Answer 1

Not very becoming at all. All of those misspelled and mispronounced words/phrases irritate the heck out of me.

Answer 2

It's not very becoming when a person misuses ellipses either... It's like they just can't bear to finish a sentence without drifting off... but really it's all too obvious they just don't know how to use it correctly or connect two sentences together.... am I right?

But, yes, "dat" and other Ebonics-like spellings are a way of showing uneducated status. People may say it's a cultural identity but it's just that they find it a cool interesting thing to do or are too lazy to spell properly. Speaking-wise it's a bit harder to point out against because there's the high probability they were raised in a family where that speaking style is acceptable and many people find it difficult to break habits that have been around since birth.
For the kids that do it just because it seems "cool" or "easy", they're simply prats and should be shunned.

Answer 3

I agree with you. However, I think it's related to all the text messaging. I guess it's perfectly acceptable among the really young.

I just hope the colleges don't accept this now! Though, even as a grad student I'm amazed by how poorly some write. How did they make it through undergrad?

Answer 4

No, it isn't. Neither is "birfday." I hear even seemingly educated people saying it that way now. I haven't gotten the memo. And the prprincess just proved your point on sooo many levels. How much easier to say can it be? It's juss fun; it doesn't mean their not educated. OK, whatever you say. Right.

Answer 5

Sometimes it's an attempt at humor, other times the speaker/writer is trying to sound "street wise" by using the language of the ghetto. And sometimes the speaker is from the ghetto and thinks that "dat's de way id is man. Ya no whad I is sayin' to ya?"

Answer 6

Because people now have a sense of slang they use like yall and "ax you a question" and things like "dat" lol but i really dont use them and think they are a sign of a very uneducated person

Answer 7

Slang

Answer 8

well its fun to say it and its a cool way. plus it is easier to spell. It doesn't mean their uneducated they juss say it like that ok mind ur buisness. go on wit life and juss leave it alone. Also haven't u ever heard of the word slang before. Well thats slang duh.

Answer 9

Its slang. Its a hip hop thing.

Its not to be taken seriously. They are just trying to have fun with our language. Thats all.

Answer 10

correct way:I rather sound stupid than to sound really smart and take a million years to write a stupid question like yours.

easier way: i rather sound stupid than 2 sound rlly smart n tak a milion yirs 2 writ a stupid ?? like urs. DID U GET DAT?? PLUS UR THE ONLY 1 THAT LOOKS STUPID, WITH THEM STUPID GLASSES AND DAT STUPID FLOWR ON UR HAIR