I'm told it originally happens simply because people of some nationalities can't wrap their heads around certain combinations of letters, in much the same way that we might struggle to pronounce a Thai or Chinese word.
Course, I'd be willing to be that there's also a helluva lot of people who've adopted it as an affectation, much like the whole "jafaican" thing.
I've only known one person who said arks and they were white, brought up in a middle class family but once he turned about 15 started talking with a fake patois type accent.
Fatboy on Eastenders is a classic example of someone saying it. I think Denise's sister does as well.
Not a show I watch... but maybe now that I've heard it once, I'll pick up on it more often.... although I don't think its reached this side of the Irish sea yet
FWIW, one of the running gags in Futurama was that the word "aks" has replaced the word "ask" in the year 3,000 and nobody can understand Fry when he uses the word "ask".
If nothing else, that should tell us that it's not a new thing, if they decided to make a joke of it for Futurama.
None of my friends of the black persuasion, either here or in the US, have ever used this ridiculous colloquialism when speaking to me. I've spent time in the States living with, and going out with, my friends over there and not once have I heard this term uttered outside of a Jerry Springer show.
Cheers for the replies people, makes very interesting reading.
The history of Ebonics is pretty interesting, there was a move to get it recognised as a language but people thought it would make black Americans even more separate from whites in schools.
A lot of young black people say 'arks' round where in live in South East London. Some of the not so young people say it like that also. I'm not going to lie, I find it very irritating.
I've not heard 'arks' but 'axe' seems very common amongst the American poor. I was watching something last night on TV and a woman said she couldn't find her phone so she 'axed' her boyfriend. I thought - that's a bit of an overreaction and a helluva thing to admit to the police who had only stopped her for speeding
A lot of young black people say 'arks' round where in live in South East London. Some of the not so young people say it like that also. I'm not going to lie, I find it very irritating.
That and 'My baby mother'. What's wrong with 'The mother of my child'?
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Not sure mate, but I've heard more white people say it than I have black.
jagetmebruv?
Me neither. I think someone should post a Youtube clip of this pronounciation
Course, I'd be willing to be that there's also a helluva lot of people who've adopted it as an affectation, much like the whole "jafaican" thing.
Cheers... good to hear an example... and can't say I've ever heard anyone say that.... weird pronounciation!
Fatboy on Eastenders is a classic example of someone saying it. I think Denise's sister does as well.
Not a show I watch... but maybe now that I've heard it once, I'll pick up on it more often.... although I don't think its reached this side of the Irish sea yet
If nothing else, that should tell us that it's not a new thing, if they decided to make a joke of it for Futurama.
Sat through the whole of it was really funny... :D:D
"I know bear mans Innit" ...
The history of Ebonics is pretty interesting, there was a move to get it recognised as a language but people thought it would make black Americans even more separate from whites in schools.