Who thinks "let me axe you something" is correct? It's ASK!?

Answer 1

You are correct that in Standard English "aksed" is now incorrect.

BUT it is NOT the result of an ignorant mistake. Rather, it is simply a dialectal variation within English. In fact, BOTH "aks" and "ask" are found in Old English and in the Middle English writing of Chaucer.

In 17th century England, "aks" was the standard in one of the four major British dialects of the early Amercan settlers.

"From 1642-1675 the Royalists, also called Cavaliers, fled from the south and southwest England with their indentured servants and settled in Virginia when the English Civil War against Charles I began. They brought with them their south England drawl (a drawing out of the vowels); they also brought such phrases as aksed (instead of asked), and ain't (instead of isn't). Royalists later settled the Carolinas as well. Southern English speech laid the foundation for the development of American Tidewater speech, or Coastal Southern English."

http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/vajda/ling201/test3materials/AmericanDialects.htm

Since it was this group that held most of the black slaves, their dialect --including "aks"-- is the source of that pronunciation among certain parts of the black population today.

Answer 2

Yes, 'ask' is correct, and "axe" is not. Some people want to be apologists, or leftists, or whatever other "ist" may apply. But I think it's a matter of dialect, and speech laziness.

I live in a predominantly black city, and I work a lot with actors. Those who would read a script and pronounce the word "ask" as 'axe' will get passed over every time. They will remain unemployed. Or remain as waiters, same thing.

You MUST speak correctly to get the part! It does not matter what your race or color is, it's how well you speak that makes the difference.

Answer 3

It has nothing to do with being lazy. It is a matter of dialect. Just like in the South and in Hawaii many English words are pronounced differently. If it makes you cringe, pay taxes for better education in the urban areas. The system is horrible, I've seen it. I'm sure the people who do hate it so much don't really care to do anything about it. They just prefer to hate...and they are low-lifes.

Answer 4

It is ASK. But today with the way people speak english its no wonder they say AXE. That makes me cringe

Answer 5

It's the way they heard they're mom& dad say it & their friends say it & it's hard to re-train your brain sometimes when you find out the correct pronunciation. My wife's mom is from Maryland & she still says "warsh" instead of "wash." She was saying it correctly for a while but when she when back to Marylad to visit she came back sayin' Warsh & My wife gave up trying to tell her "their's no "R" in Wash Mom" Hope that helps you kinda understand.

Answer 6

It drives me nuts when people say "axe"!!! My math teacher this past year actually picked on kids that said it...it was very funny!!!

Answer 7

I hope you find an answer to why many people say "axe" when they mean "ask".

Is there a genetic defect that makes people unable to say "ask"? Or is it environmental? Or just mental?

Answer 8

It is not correct, it is Ebonics. Forced upon society by lazy Blacks who do not want to learn proper English, or who are not inteligent enough to learn proper English.

Answer 9

This isn't a question.

Answer 10

yea it is ask