"Are they not?" and similar phrasing

[Gnarly]

My young teen has started using this rather unnatural phrasing when speaking. "Are they not?" "Is it not?" etc
When I would expect most people to use "Aren't they?" "Isn't it?"

I've no idea where it comes from but I feel like I'm seeing it a lot on social media too. Do your kids speak this way? Anyone know where it originates from?

No idea about your teen, but the people I know who talk like this are from the Oldham area.

My daughter is 15 and if I do something she finds annoying she always says "Can you not" 😂
(not from Oldham....not even sure where Oldham is)

I don't find that unusual phrasing and I'm a long way past being a teenager.

I think it’s always been a thing, after all that’s what isn’t and aren’t are abbreviated from

It's perfectly normal phrasing to me and always has been. I am nearly 58. Loads of people I know speak this way. Isn't it or aren't they are just contractions of these phrases

My Dad was from Northern Ireland. Are they not/is it not were very normal for his family and friends.

I first heard this type of phrase in Scotland when I'd visit family as a child.

I use it all the time. My dcs do too.

The Scottish equivalent of this is “Goannae no…” eg “Goannae no slam the door when you come in at 3am?”

(it’s a contraction of “Going to not”)

Completely normal phrasing to me, doesn't seem unnatural at all. I'm in the SW.

Usually use it for a bit more subtle emphasis than 'aren't they' I think, but it's not a conscious choice.

Like saying Can not rather than can't.

It’s from the north west of England.

To me it’s how barristers speak during cross-examination:

Mr Jones, you are lying when you say you didn’t own a gun, are you not?

“This is clear evidence that you were at the scene, is it not?”

I’m from the south, mid thirties, very average (boring), and generally considered fairly well spoken. I think I usually say this when being more formal or a bit passive-aggressive

Perfectly normal in the north west.

I think this is for clarity

We, yes it is. It’s also what is known legally as leasing question.

You are allowed to phrase it this way in cross (challenging the other side’s witness) but not during examination-in-chief, when you take your own witness through the evidence.

I also don't think it's unnatural at all. I'm from NE and it's perfectly normal phrasing imo

Does he have a new friend who's Scottish, or an new favourite show with Scots people in it?

I do this. It really annoys my mum for some reason 😄 I'm in my 40s so not a teen thing!

*leading question

Isn't it? And aren't they? Are just more informal versions of the same thing. Thinking about it, those contractions don't really make sense: is not it? and are not they?

When I would expect most people to use "Aren't they?" "Isn't it?"

Aren't they = are not they

Isn't it = is not it

It's just changing the order of three short words around..

I always say 'are they not?' But usually if I'm a bit surprised by what preceeded it. Like 'Hes not coming to dinner' ..'is he not?' or 'I thought I left my umbrella, is it there?' and then if it's a no then it would be say 'is it not?' like rather than just saying oh ok. You kind of question it. Not sure why, I've always done it. I didn't know kids do it though. I'm in my mid 40s.

I would say these phrases are more normal in the north, Scotland, Ireland but only used in the south east for clarity/emphasis (or passive aggression as someone else said!). So depends where OP is from as to whether it's normal or not.

Yes! this is the context he will use it in.
"Dad will be home at 6, will he not?"
"Those pizzas in the fridge are for dinner, are they not?"

We're from the south east and I've never heard anyone except a barrister etc talk this way. I wondered if it was from a streamer or something like that!

Sounds like something out of a Jane Austen novel, does it not?

Indeed it does, but I do not believe he has been exposed to any such literary influences!