The Newsroom

Diction

(May 2010)

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RM
Roger Mellie
TonyCurrie posted:
mdtauk posted:
Why do people say AXE instead of ASK. It drives me MENTAL!!!!

Someone should axe them why!


It may drive you mental, but it isn't actually wrong. "Aks" is the Old English version of the word, and it was that version (to use a computer software simile) of English that was exported, resulting in many of African descent using the original version rather than the later 'ask'. "Aks" is also still used in some parts of England.


True, but it's not formal English now-- certainly not in the Oxford Concise Dictionary. Oof, I sound like Suzie Dent there Laughing
BA
bilky asko
TonyCurrie posted:
mdtauk posted:
Why do people say AXE instead of ASK. It drives me MENTAL!!!!

Someone should axe them why!


It may drive you mental, but it isn't actually wrong. "Aks" is the Old English version of the word, and it was that version (to use a computer software simile) of English that was exported, resulting in many of African descent using the original version rather than the later 'ask'. "Aks" is also still used in some parts of England.


The Old English version of the word is either ascian or axian - both were accepted (with ascian being more popular) until the 1600s, when ascian prevailed. All the roots of the word put the "s" sound before the "k" - so the difference was created by Old English, and has simply existed in one form or another until today.

The "a" in both words should look like this.

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