Aks?

[CC4712]

I've seen a few people on TV pronounce ASK almost like AKS. I can't even say it in my head like they do! Is this a regional thing or some trendy, new way of saying ask? (I'm not British BTW).

It’s an Americanism that, sadly, seems to have started to make its way over here.

Although tbf, many American people hate that people ‘axe’ a question too judging by comments on Reddit & TikTok etc.

Very common in SE London when I lived there 20 years ago.

I have absolutely no idea, it's not a new thing but how do people manage to get a 3 letter word so wrong?

It's not a new thing and I'm not sure about it being an Americanism.

My DH does this and people have been doing this in my part of East London for at least 30 years.

Same with saying West-min-i-ster instead of West-min-ster.

In my experience it's a London thing and a black people thing. It's definitely not an American thing😂 people really will say 5hat about anything. It's been a London thing for many many years.

Surely if it was good enough for Chaucer...

Yow loveres axe I now this questioun,
Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamoun?

I'm interested in how that works, I'm assuming he knows the order of the letters, what's the reasoning behind saying them in the wrong order?

I can kind of understand Westminster as it s a long word and maybe people aren't sure how it's spelled

This guy is really interesting. I love his videos. And he covered this pronunciation of "ask" a few months back

When I was at school we were taught that Westminster the place was pronounced west-min-ster but that the borough (City of Westminster) was pronounced West-min-i-ster.

Our school was in the City of Westminster btw.

Also there was a secondary school called North Westminster and it was definitely pronounced North West Min-i-ster.

I think most people now saw Westminster for both now though.

The Sugababes says aks in the middle of Push The Button. Billy Joel says it once in Don't Ask Me Why as well. It's always bugged me!

If you have a Google, there are several articles about the linguistic origins of why aks is used that are really interesting.
It is mainly about how language evolves over time and how certain words swung between different pronunciations historically and different ones "win out" over others. Throw in geographical/regional and cultural differences we end up with different words for the same thing.

It's not an American thing. It's a predominantly black thing but is actually correct 'old English'.

Caribbean and it’s been around at least 30 years.

Can’t say I associate it with Americans at all. I first heard it being said a lot on EastEnders about 10-15 years ago, more like Arks.

Axe/aks for ask was used when I was at school, 40 years ago, predominantly by those of West Indian heritage. Same with crips for crisps.

It's Ebonics, and now, because if that it is part of MLE.

Love the ending: "a woman can't be arsed to leave a restaurant because she's breastfeeding a child" 😂

@GalileoHumpkins

I fear your erudite reply was sadly ignored.

Catherine Tate was using it with her character Lauren about 20 years ago.
"Aks me if I'm bovvered. Am I bovvered though? Face? Bovvered? Face? Bovvered? I ain't bovvered."
So I dispute that it's new or an Americanism.

I think it’s irritating and makes people sound “rough”

@BiscuitsandPuffin

See @GalileoHumpkins reply upthread. It's rather older than Ms Tate...

It's dialect.

Just like some west Midlands people say 'you am' instead of 'you are'.

Sure you can say it - it's AXE.

Yes I've heard it a lot too and seems to come mainly from Black Americans. An AAVE thing or dialect or something. Not a big deal. Also know some Black British who say it.