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).

Along with Westminister, there's Padderton (Paddington), Tedderton (Teddington) and similar

if you mean arks, this was a thing when i was young? it's not new.

grew up in south london

essex peeps use it too.

In my experience it's something I've heard from people from the Caribbean. It wouldn't surprise me if it was regional elsewhere.

It is not new at all, in Old English aks was more common than ask in the written language and its the version Chaucer used (spelt axe). The two have existed side by side since the

Never mind aks, what really annoys me is people who say "Feb-u-ary" for February and "strenth" for strength.

*then

Posted too soon. I also meant to say this type of change is really common, e.g. horse used to be pronounced hros.

Some links:
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/articles/is-aks-a-question-proper-english/
https://theconversation.com/amp/ask-or-aks-how-linguistic-prejudice-perpetuates-inequality-175839

... and don't get me started on brooshetta! It's broo-sketta.

I don't think bruschetta is the same, it depends on knowing the intricacies of Italian pronunciation (although the sch is the same hard sound as in school when to think about it), which is perhaps a bit niche, and people hear everyone else saying brushetta.

I didn't realise that aks was dialect, and possibly the original pronunciation, so this has been interesting, though I note in the YouTube video above (thanks!) he uses a long a, so it's more arks than axe.

I see you used the word niche - did you pronounce it nitch by any chance? 😁

I pronounce niche how I hear other people saying it. Although don't the Americans say nitch? I'm just aware that some of the criticism of pronunciation can be used against people in a superior way. Having said that, I always pick my DD up for choritzo as she should know better, but I don't do it to other people!

Sorry Muriel, that was intended as a joke! Or "jock" if you like 😊💐.

Ah okay @Boomboxinmyattic - thanks for clarifying, I'm probably a bit touchy about it as I grew up in a working-class household and sometimes not knowing how to pronounce things properly, and feeling really crap when I went to university. It's only in later years after learning grammar and languages that I have become a bit of a grammar fascist myself!

I totally agree and sympathise, and in fact I've weaned myself off most of my grammar judgement for this exact reason 💯.

You means arks?

I've only ever known black people to say it. More specifically, Caribbean.

Grew up in London. Unsure if relevant.

It's not an Americanism.

It's not the same as arsed, as in "can't be arsed". Which apparently some people say as "can't be asked". Which to me also sounds wrong.

How does your husband pronounce Axe then?

It’s Caribbean in my experience and i always think it sounds like arks. As in Noah’s ark.

And definitely not new.

This was super interesting! Very informative.

Definitely British Caribbean, particularly London. In those circles, 'arks' is widely considered correct pronunciation.

I used to work in a majority-Caribbean church and a primary school with kids mostly from Caribbean families. I sometimes heard teachers correct children who pronounced it 'ask'...