What is “amp't” in “Am I or amp't I?”
In Terry Pratchett's Equal Rites, Esk, the main character, asks: "Am I or amp't I?"
What does "amp't" stand for here?
meaning
edited Jul 29 '12 at 20:38
simchona
30.7k5111139
asked Feb 13 '12 at 7:25
vitautvitaut
110116
add a comment |
In Terry Pratchett's Equal Rites, Esk, the main character, asks: "Am I or amp't I?"
What does "amp't" stand for here?
meaning
edited Jul 29 '12 at 20:38
simchona
30.7k5111139
asked Feb 13 '12 at 7:25
vitautvitaut
110116
2
Are you sure it's not a tympo? ;)
– Kris
Feb 13 '12 at 9:55
2
@Kris: I think only the author can be sure in this case.
– vitaut
Feb 14 '12 at 6:46
add a comment |
In Terry Pratchett's Equal Rites, Esk, the main character, asks: "Am I or amp't I?"
What does "amp't" stand for here?
meaning
edited Jul 29 '12 at 20:38
simchona
30.7k5111139
asked Feb 13 '12 at 7:25
vitautvitaut
110116
In Terry Pratchett's Equal Rites, Esk, the main character, asks: "Am I or amp't I?"
What does "amp't" stand for here?
meaning
meaning
edited Jul 29 '12 at 20:38
simchona
30.7k5111139
asked Feb 13 '12 at 7:25
vitautvitaut
110116
edited Jul 29 '12 at 20:38
simchona
30.7k5111139
asked Feb 13 '12 at 7:25
vitautvitaut
110116
edited Jul 29 '12 at 20:38
simchona
30.7k5111139
edited Jul 29 '12 at 20:38
simchona
30.7k5111139
edited Jul 29 '12 at 20:38
simchona
30.7k5111139
30.7k5111139
asked Feb 13 '12 at 7:25
vitautvitaut
110116
asked Feb 13 '12 at 7:25
vitautvitaut
110116
asked Feb 13 '12 at 7:25
vitautvitaut
110116
110116
2
Are you sure it's not a tympo? ;)
– Kris
Feb 13 '12 at 9:55
2
@Kris: I think only the author can be sure in this case.
– vitaut
Feb 14 '12 at 6:46
add a comment |
2
Are you sure it's not a tympo? ;)
– Kris
Feb 13 '12 at 9:55
2
@Kris: I think only the author can be sure in this case.
– vitaut
Feb 14 '12 at 6:46
2
2
Are you sure it's not a tympo? ;)
– Kris
Feb 13 '12 at 9:55
Are you sure it's not a tympo? ;)
– Kris
Feb 13 '12 at 9:55
2
2
@Kris: I think only the author can be sure in this case.
– vitaut
Feb 14 '12 at 6:46
@Kris: I think only the author can be sure in this case.
– vitaut
Feb 14 '12 at 6:46
add a comment |
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
The logical form is "Amn't I?", mirroring "Aren't you?" and "Isn't she?".
I find it difficult to sound the n in amn't and instead produce a bilabial plosive. Perhaps Pratchett and Esk do too.
answered Feb 13 '12 at 8:18
HenryHenry
17.2k34258
+1 purely for the head-scratching you've just caused me by conflating author Pratchett's idiolect with that of his own fictional creation Esk!
– FumbleFingers
Feb 13 '12 at 16:13
add a comment |
"Aren't I" - it's intended as a joke accent or childish mistake.
Since you would expect am to have an opposite am not or shortened to am't
answered Feb 13 '12 at 7:35
mgbmgb
22k23687
Why "amp't" and not "amn't", I wonder.
– Urbycoz
Feb 13 '12 at 8:47
Perhaps Pratchett had a specific person or regional accent in mind. I think there are English Midlands dialects that might say "amp't".
– slim
Feb 13 '12 at 11:13
1
@slim,Urbycoz: In my SE UK dialect, I couldn't easily hear, let alone articulate, a difference between amp't and amn't in casual speech. And speaking for myself, I think the latter form seems a more "natural" way of writing the sound I'd actually be making, since I'm accustomed to ignoring or downplaying the audible significance of the letter "p" in such contexts.
– FumbleFingers
Feb 13 '12 at 16:11
1
Actually, the historical contraction of am not is ain't. Kind of obvious, in fact. It generalized early to all pronouns and was stigmatized for it by Lowthians, so that now it's become stigmatized as well in its original first person singular, too. A cheeky contraction that didn't know its place is now relegated to the gutter, where it belongs. Meanwhile every new generation discovers the joys of ain't, but dare not speak its name. Sounds like Downtown Abby.
– John Lawler
Feb 13 '12 at 18:43
add a comment |
Sixty years ago, my family moved from Wales to the Hebrides. My memory is that there all the children and a few adults used the tag question "Amn't I?" when I would use "Aren't I": e.g. "I'm right, amn't I?" And up there they did not insert the "p" sound - it was easy to say and closer to "ammunt" with the emphasis strongly on "am". (Even as a child, I thought it was grammatically more sensible than the form I used.)
answered Mar 12 '15 at 13:07
BronwenBronwen
111
add a comment |
This is a phonological process called excrescence. For example, say "Noam Chomsky", and you'll notice that it sounds like there's a [p] in the last name. Pratchett is just inventing how am't would be pronounced, if people said that instead of aren't.
answered 8 hours ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
Which led to a chimpanzee in the psych lab being named "Nim Chimpsky".
– Oldbag
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Amp't I stands for Aren't I
Example-
I'm gonna die amp't I.
I'm gonna die aren't I.
answered 9 hours ago
Gautam BattaGautam Batta
1
New contributor
Gautam Batta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
Welcome. What does this answer add to the six-year-old accepted answer, which even explains how amp't is formed?
– Andrew Leach♦
8 hours ago
add a comment |
protected by tchrist♦ 1 hour ago
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
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5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The logical form is "Amn't I?", mirroring "Aren't you?" and "Isn't she?".
I find it difficult to sound the n in amn't and instead produce a bilabial plosive. Perhaps Pratchett and Esk do too.
answered Feb 13 '12 at 8:18
HenryHenry
17.2k34258
+1 purely for the head-scratching you've just caused me by conflating author Pratchett's idiolect with that of his own fictional creation Esk!
– FumbleFingers
Feb 13 '12 at 16:13
add a comment |
The logical form is "Amn't I?", mirroring "Aren't you?" and "Isn't she?".
I find it difficult to sound the n in amn't and instead produce a bilabial plosive. Perhaps Pratchett and Esk do too.
answered Feb 13 '12 at 8:18
HenryHenry
17.2k34258
+1 purely for the head-scratching you've just caused me by conflating author Pratchett's idiolect with that of his own fictional creation Esk!
– FumbleFingers
Feb 13 '12 at 16:13
add a comment |
The logical form is "Amn't I?", mirroring "Aren't you?" and "Isn't she?".
I find it difficult to sound the n in amn't and instead produce a bilabial plosive. Perhaps Pratchett and Esk do too.
answered Feb 13 '12 at 8:18
HenryHenry
17.2k34258
The logical form is "Amn't I?", mirroring "Aren't you?" and "Isn't she?".
I find it difficult to sound the n in amn't and instead produce a bilabial plosive. Perhaps Pratchett and Esk do too.
answered Feb 13 '12 at 8:18
HenryHenry
17.2k34258
answered Feb 13 '12 at 8:18
HenryHenry
17.2k34258
answered Feb 13 '12 at 8:18
HenryHenry
17.2k34258
answered Feb 13 '12 at 8:18
HenryHenry
17.2k34258
17.2k34258
+1 purely for the head-scratching you've just caused me by conflating author Pratchett's idiolect with that of his own fictional creation Esk!
– FumbleFingers
Feb 13 '12 at 16:13
add a comment |
+1 purely for the head-scratching you've just caused me by conflating author Pratchett's idiolect with that of his own fictional creation Esk!
– FumbleFingers
Feb 13 '12 at 16:13
+1 purely for the head-scratching you've just caused me by conflating author Pratchett's idiolect with that of his own fictional creation Esk!
– FumbleFingers
Feb 13 '12 at 16:13
+1 purely for the head-scratching you've just caused me by conflating author Pratchett's idiolect with that of his own fictional creation Esk!
– FumbleFingers
Feb 13 '12 at 16:13
add a comment |
"Aren't I" - it's intended as a joke accent or childish mistake.
Since you would expect am to have an opposite am not or shortened to am't
answered Feb 13 '12 at 7:35
mgbmgb
22k23687
Why "amp't" and not "amn't", I wonder.
– Urbycoz
Feb 13 '12 at 8:47
Perhaps Pratchett had a specific person or regional accent in mind. I think there are English Midlands dialects that might say "amp't".
– slim
Feb 13 '12 at 11:13
1
@slim,Urbycoz: In my SE UK dialect, I couldn't easily hear, let alone articulate, a difference between amp't and amn't in casual speech. And speaking for myself, I think the latter form seems a more "natural" way of writing the sound I'd actually be making, since I'm accustomed to ignoring or downplaying the audible significance of the letter "p" in such contexts.
– FumbleFingers
Feb 13 '12 at 16:11
1
Actually, the historical contraction of am not is ain't. Kind of obvious, in fact. It generalized early to all pronouns and was stigmatized for it by Lowthians, so that now it's become stigmatized as well in its original first person singular, too. A cheeky contraction that didn't know its place is now relegated to the gutter, where it belongs. Meanwhile every new generation discovers the joys of ain't, but dare not speak its name. Sounds like Downtown Abby.
– John Lawler
Feb 13 '12 at 18:43
add a comment |
"Aren't I" - it's intended as a joke accent or childish mistake.
Since you would expect am to have an opposite am not or shortened to am't
answered Feb 13 '12 at 7:35
mgbmgb
22k23687
Why "amp't" and not "amn't", I wonder.
– Urbycoz
Feb 13 '12 at 8:47
Perhaps Pratchett had a specific person or regional accent in mind. I think there are English Midlands dialects that might say "amp't".
– slim
Feb 13 '12 at 11:13
1
@slim,Urbycoz: In my SE UK dialect, I couldn't easily hear, let alone articulate, a difference between amp't and amn't in casual speech. And speaking for myself, I think the latter form seems a more "natural" way of writing the sound I'd actually be making, since I'm accustomed to ignoring or downplaying the audible significance of the letter "p" in such contexts.
– FumbleFingers
Feb 13 '12 at 16:11
1
Actually, the historical contraction of am not is ain't. Kind of obvious, in fact. It generalized early to all pronouns and was stigmatized for it by Lowthians, so that now it's become stigmatized as well in its original first person singular, too. A cheeky contraction that didn't know its place is now relegated to the gutter, where it belongs. Meanwhile every new generation discovers the joys of ain't, but dare not speak its name. Sounds like Downtown Abby.
– John Lawler
Feb 13 '12 at 18:43
add a comment |
"Aren't I" - it's intended as a joke accent or childish mistake.
Since you would expect am to have an opposite am not or shortened to am't
answered Feb 13 '12 at 7:35
mgbmgb
22k23687
"Aren't I" - it's intended as a joke accent or childish mistake.
Since you would expect am to have an opposite am not or shortened to am't
answered Feb 13 '12 at 7:35
mgbmgb
22k23687
answered Feb 13 '12 at 7:35
mgbmgb
22k23687
answered Feb 13 '12 at 7:35
mgbmgb
22k23687
answered Feb 13 '12 at 7:35
mgbmgb
22k23687
22k23687
Why "amp't" and not "amn't", I wonder.
– Urbycoz
Feb 13 '12 at 8:47
Perhaps Pratchett had a specific person or regional accent in mind. I think there are English Midlands dialects that might say "amp't".
– slim
Feb 13 '12 at 11:13
1
@slim,Urbycoz: In my SE UK dialect, I couldn't easily hear, let alone articulate, a difference between amp't and amn't in casual speech. And speaking for myself, I think the latter form seems a more "natural" way of writing the sound I'd actually be making, since I'm accustomed to ignoring or downplaying the audible significance of the letter "p" in such contexts.
– FumbleFingers
Feb 13 '12 at 16:11
1
Actually, the historical contraction of am not is ain't. Kind of obvious, in fact. It generalized early to all pronouns and was stigmatized for it by Lowthians, so that now it's become stigmatized as well in its original first person singular, too. A cheeky contraction that didn't know its place is now relegated to the gutter, where it belongs. Meanwhile every new generation discovers the joys of ain't, but dare not speak its name. Sounds like Downtown Abby.
– John Lawler
Feb 13 '12 at 18:43
add a comment |
Why "amp't" and not "amn't", I wonder.
– Urbycoz
Feb 13 '12 at 8:47
Perhaps Pratchett had a specific person or regional accent in mind. I think there are English Midlands dialects that might say "amp't".
– slim
Feb 13 '12 at 11:13
1
@slim,Urbycoz: In my SE UK dialect, I couldn't easily hear, let alone articulate, a difference between amp't and amn't in casual speech. And speaking for myself, I think the latter form seems a more "natural" way of writing the sound I'd actually be making, since I'm accustomed to ignoring or downplaying the audible significance of the letter "p" in such contexts.
– FumbleFingers
Feb 13 '12 at 16:11
1
Actually, the historical contraction of am not is ain't. Kind of obvious, in fact. It generalized early to all pronouns and was stigmatized for it by Lowthians, so that now it's become stigmatized as well in its original first person singular, too. A cheeky contraction that didn't know its place is now relegated to the gutter, where it belongs. Meanwhile every new generation discovers the joys of ain't, but dare not speak its name. Sounds like Downtown Abby.
– John Lawler
Feb 13 '12 at 18:43
Why "amp't" and not "amn't", I wonder.
– Urbycoz
Feb 13 '12 at 8:47
Why "amp't" and not "amn't", I wonder.
– Urbycoz
Feb 13 '12 at 8:47
Perhaps Pratchett had a specific person or regional accent in mind. I think there are English Midlands dialects that might say "amp't".
– slim
Feb 13 '12 at 11:13
Perhaps Pratchett had a specific person or regional accent in mind. I think there are English Midlands dialects that might say "amp't".
– slim
Feb 13 '12 at 11:13
1
1
@slim,Urbycoz: In my SE UK dialect, I couldn't easily hear, let alone articulate, a difference between amp't and amn't in casual speech. And speaking for myself, I think the latter form seems a more "natural" way of writing the sound I'd actually be making, since I'm accustomed to ignoring or downplaying the audible significance of the letter "p" in such contexts.
– FumbleFingers
Feb 13 '12 at 16:11
@slim,Urbycoz: In my SE UK dialect, I couldn't easily hear, let alone articulate, a difference between amp't and amn't in casual speech. And speaking for myself, I think the latter form seems a more "natural" way of writing the sound I'd actually be making, since I'm accustomed to ignoring or downplaying the audible significance of the letter "p" in such contexts.
– FumbleFingers
Feb 13 '12 at 16:11
1
1
Actually, the historical contraction of am not is ain't. Kind of obvious, in fact. It generalized early to all pronouns and was stigmatized for it by Lowthians, so that now it's become stigmatized as well in its original first person singular, too. A cheeky contraction that didn't know its place is now relegated to the gutter, where it belongs. Meanwhile every new generation discovers the joys of ain't, but dare not speak its name. Sounds like Downtown Abby.
– John Lawler
Feb 13 '12 at 18:43
Actually, the historical contraction of am not is ain't. Kind of obvious, in fact. It generalized early to all pronouns and was stigmatized for it by Lowthians, so that now it's become stigmatized as well in its original first person singular, too. A cheeky contraction that didn't know its place is now relegated to the gutter, where it belongs. Meanwhile every new generation discovers the joys of ain't, but dare not speak its name. Sounds like Downtown Abby.
– John Lawler
Feb 13 '12 at 18:43
add a comment |
Sixty years ago, my family moved from Wales to the Hebrides. My memory is that there all the children and a few adults used the tag question "Amn't I?" when I would use "Aren't I": e.g. "I'm right, amn't I?" And up there they did not insert the "p" sound - it was easy to say and closer to "ammunt" with the emphasis strongly on "am". (Even as a child, I thought it was grammatically more sensible than the form I used.)
answered Mar 12 '15 at 13:07
BronwenBronwen
111
add a comment |
Sixty years ago, my family moved from Wales to the Hebrides. My memory is that there all the children and a few adults used the tag question "Amn't I?" when I would use "Aren't I": e.g. "I'm right, amn't I?" And up there they did not insert the "p" sound - it was easy to say and closer to "ammunt" with the emphasis strongly on "am". (Even as a child, I thought it was grammatically more sensible than the form I used.)
answered Mar 12 '15 at 13:07
BronwenBronwen
111
add a comment |
Sixty years ago, my family moved from Wales to the Hebrides. My memory is that there all the children and a few adults used the tag question "Amn't I?" when I would use "Aren't I": e.g. "I'm right, amn't I?" And up there they did not insert the "p" sound - it was easy to say and closer to "ammunt" with the emphasis strongly on "am". (Even as a child, I thought it was grammatically more sensible than the form I used.)
answered Mar 12 '15 at 13:07
BronwenBronwen
111
Sixty years ago, my family moved from Wales to the Hebrides. My memory is that there all the children and a few adults used the tag question "Amn't I?" when I would use "Aren't I": e.g. "I'm right, amn't I?" And up there they did not insert the "p" sound - it was easy to say and closer to "ammunt" with the emphasis strongly on "am". (Even as a child, I thought it was grammatically more sensible than the form I used.)
answered Mar 12 '15 at 13:07
BronwenBronwen
111
answered Mar 12 '15 at 13:07
BronwenBronwen
111
answered Mar 12 '15 at 13:07
BronwenBronwen
111
answered Mar 12 '15 at 13:07
BronwenBronwen
111
111
add a comment |
add a comment |
This is a phonological process called excrescence. For example, say "Noam Chomsky", and you'll notice that it sounds like there's a [p] in the last name. Pratchett is just inventing how am't would be pronounced, if people said that instead of aren't.
answered 8 hours ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
Which led to a chimpanzee in the psych lab being named "Nim Chimpsky".
– Oldbag
3 hours ago
add a comment |
This is a phonological process called excrescence. For example, say "Noam Chomsky", and you'll notice that it sounds like there's a [p] in the last name. Pratchett is just inventing how am't would be pronounced, if people said that instead of aren't.
answered 8 hours ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
Which led to a chimpanzee in the psych lab being named "Nim Chimpsky".
– Oldbag
3 hours ago
add a comment |
This is a phonological process called excrescence. For example, say "Noam Chomsky", and you'll notice that it sounds like there's a [p] in the last name. Pratchett is just inventing how am't would be pronounced, if people said that instead of aren't.
answered 8 hours ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
This is a phonological process called excrescence. For example, say "Noam Chomsky", and you'll notice that it sounds like there's a [p] in the last name. Pratchett is just inventing how am't would be pronounced, if people said that instead of aren't.
answered 8 hours ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
answered 8 hours ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
answered 8 hours ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
answered 8 hours ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
12k12143
Which led to a chimpanzee in the psych lab being named "Nim Chimpsky".
– Oldbag
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Which led to a chimpanzee in the psych lab being named "Nim Chimpsky".
– Oldbag
3 hours ago
Which led to a chimpanzee in the psych lab being named "Nim Chimpsky".
– Oldbag
3 hours ago
Which led to a chimpanzee in the psych lab being named "Nim Chimpsky".
– Oldbag
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Amp't I stands for Aren't I
Example-
I'm gonna die amp't I.
I'm gonna die aren't I.
answered 9 hours ago
Gautam BattaGautam Batta
1
New contributor
Gautam Batta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
Welcome. What does this answer add to the six-year-old accepted answer, which even explains how amp't is formed?
– Andrew Leach♦
8 hours ago
add a comment |
Amp't I stands for Aren't I
Example-
I'm gonna die amp't I.
I'm gonna die aren't I.
answered 9 hours ago
Gautam BattaGautam Batta
1
New contributor
Gautam Batta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
Welcome. What does this answer add to the six-year-old accepted answer, which even explains how amp't is formed?
– Andrew Leach♦
8 hours ago
add a comment |
Amp't I stands for Aren't I
Example-
I'm gonna die amp't I.
I'm gonna die aren't I.
answered 9 hours ago
Gautam BattaGautam Batta
1
New contributor
Gautam Batta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Amp't I stands for Aren't I
Example-
I'm gonna die amp't I.
I'm gonna die aren't I.
answered 9 hours ago
Gautam BattaGautam Batta
1
New contributor
Gautam Batta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 9 hours ago
Gautam BattaGautam Batta
1
New contributor
Gautam Batta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 9 hours ago
Gautam BattaGautam Batta
1
answered 9 hours ago
Gautam BattaGautam Batta
1
1
New contributor
Gautam Batta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Gautam Batta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Gautam Batta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
Welcome. What does this answer add to the six-year-old accepted answer, which even explains how amp't is formed?
– Andrew Leach♦
8 hours ago
add a comment |
4
Welcome. What does this answer add to the six-year-old accepted answer, which even explains how amp't is formed?
– Andrew Leach♦
8 hours ago
4
4
Welcome. What does this answer add to the six-year-old accepted answer, which even explains how amp't is formed?
– Andrew Leach♦
8 hours ago
Welcome. What does this answer add to the six-year-old accepted answer, which even explains how amp't is formed?
– Andrew Leach♦
8 hours ago
add a comment |
protected by tchrist♦ 1 hour ago
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
2
Are you sure it's not a tympo? ;)
– Kris
Feb 13 '12 at 9:55
2
@Kris: I think only the author can be sure in this case.
– vitaut
Feb 14 '12 at 6:46