Why do some people say "aks" instead of "ask"?

Question

no not the way they spell it the way the pronounce the word "ask" they pronounce it "aks" or "axe".

thank you Jason L.

Answer 1

It's an example of a process called "metathesis" which often occurs in languages where two consonants or a consonant and a vowel get switched around. For example, some people also say "ecscape" for escape, "gernade" for grenade "larnyx" for larynx. Metathesis also happens in other languages besides English as in Cajun French froubir "to mop" and fremer "to close" but standard French fourbir, fermer; even in Arabic falid "raincoat," standard Arabic fadil. Sometimes a metathesized form will eventually become a "correct" form. The modern English word "wasp" was wæps in Old English.

Nobody knows for sure why metathesis or any other phonetic change occurs in languages. One theory, is that the human ear is an imperfect organ for hearing and does not hear every sound spoken correctly. Another related theory even says that people hear differently - that not everybody has an inner ear or auditory canal that is shaped the same - almost like differences in human fingerprints. According to some linguists, this partly explains why American and British English pronunciations are different.

Answer 2

It depends on the dialect of English spoken. People in different areas and of different ages, races, cultures, etc speak different. Saying "aks" instead of "ask" is usually seen among people who speak the dialect AAVE (African American Vernacular English).

It's not "bad English", like a lot of people were saying. It's the same way that a New York accent is different than a Texas accent. Different regions, ages, races, cultures, and factors like these will cause people to speak different dialects and pronounce things differently.

Answer 3

"Use of apparently metathesised forms like "aks" for "ask" or "graps" for "grasp", though both examples also existed in Anglo-Saxon and more recent varieties of English, so may simply be survivals of non-standard forms."

It is because that is how other dialects SAY IT IN ENGLISH. As you know the blacks were surpressed and denied an education many years ago and much of the dialect has survived. As you see, it is a metathesis, the flipping of word sounds in a word.

It is a perfectly acceptable pronunciation that they say. It would be like saying "I learnt to speak Spanish when I was 10" versus "I learned to speak Spanish when I was 10", "Where is the cloackroom?" versus "Where's the locker room?", "R u here?" versus "Are you here?".

Taken from this website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Vernacular_English

Answer 4

Probably the same reason Bush say "Worshington". And what's up with all the people answering why its spelled wrong when the questioner clearly stated he wasn't talking about it being mispelled but mispronounced?

Answer 5

I personally believe that it's some people's way of being different... certain people take pride as if it's their creation...I have heard people whom are well educated.. and never say *axe*, but as soon they are around that environment, or speaking with someone who uses that term,, they themselves revert to that...

It's annoying...

Answer 6

Obvioulsy "Malkov in the muddle" has never travelled in his life.

The only people who say "let me aks/axe you a question" are the poorest and/or least educated in in the US.

The poorest and least educated in other English speaking countries never do it.


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Answer 7

English slang. street slang.Like some words of the english language, ask has evolved to , sounds like, "axed".

Answer 8

I think because in certain areas it is widely accepted. When I hear someone say " Can I ax you something" I want to correct them...however I also want to live... it drives me up a wall!

Answer 9

because they cannot speak the english language correctly. i'm assuming you mean the people who say "aks" as in pronounced "axe". maybe its considered ubonics?

Answer 10

What do you mean by "some people"? I've never heard it pronounced aks.