I'm an African American. Ask me anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this likely was already asked, but why are AA so offended by being called "articulate"? I would love it if someone told that to me.

Here is a good explanation written by Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/01/AR2007020101495.html

Well, ok, maybe not an anomaly. But, lots of AA -even in managerial positions at my agency- say things like "ax" instead of "ask." WTF is up with that? Would you correct them if you heard that? It's incorrect. And annoying. I ONLY hear this from AAs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this likely was already asked, but why are AA so offended by being called "articulate"? I would love it if someone told that to me.

Probably because of the stereotype of speaking ebonics and the assumption that an articulate AA is an anomaly.

I agree with this poster. When it's pointed out, it seems to suggest that intelligent/articulate AAs are an exception to the rule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this likely was already asked, but why are AA so offended by being called "articulate"? I would love it if someone told that to me.

Here is a good explanation written by Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/01/AR2007020101495.html

Well, ok, maybe not an anomaly. But, lots of AA -even in managerial positions at my agency- say things like "ax" instead of "ask." WTF is up with that? Would you correct them if you heard that? It's incorrect. And annoying. I ONLY hear this from AAs.

I'm AA and I will say this: I've NEVER paid attention to how I/other AAs say "ask". Never. Are you saying they pronounce it like "axe"? Seriously...I've never heard this before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this likely was already asked, but why are AA so offended by being called "articulate"? I would love it if someone told that to me.

Here is a good explanation written by Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/01/AR2007020101495.html

Well, ok, maybe not an anomaly. But, lots of AA -even in managerial positions at my agency- say things like "ax" instead of "ask." WTF is up with that? Would you correct them if you heard that? It's incorrect. And annoying. I ONLY hear this from AAs.

I'm AA and I will say this: I've NEVER paid attention to how I/other AAs say "ask". Never. Are you saying they pronounce it like "axe"? Seriously...I've never heard this before.

OMG, it's ALL THE TIME.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this likely was already asked, but why are AA so offended by being called "articulate"? I would love it if someone told that to me.

Here is a good explanation written by Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/01/AR2007020101495.html

Well, ok, maybe not an anomaly. But, lots of AA -even in managerial positions at my agency- say things like "ax" instead of "ask." WTF is up with that? Would you correct them if you heard that? It's incorrect. And annoying. I ONLY hear this from AAs.

I'm AA and I will say this: I've NEVER paid attention to how I/other AAs say "ask". Never. Are you saying they pronounce it like "axe"? Seriously...I've never heard this before.

Are you for real? Are you feigning ignorance? You make it seem like PP is just being nit-picky. The ax/ask thing happens a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this likely was already asked, but why are AA so offended by being called "articulate"? I would love it if someone told that to me.

Here is a good explanation written by Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/01/AR2007020101495.html

Well, ok, maybe not an anomaly. But, lots of AA -even in managerial positions at my agency- say things like "ax" instead of "ask." WTF is up with that? Would you correct them if you heard that? It's incorrect. And annoying. I ONLY hear this from AAs.

I'm AA and I will say this: I've NEVER paid attention to how I/other AAs say "ask". Never. Are you saying they pronounce it like "axe"? Seriously...I've never heard this before.

OMG, it's ALL THE TIME.

Pronounced as "axe"? Let me just say that while I've never heard it...what's the problem? Southern people have their own little sayings too. Doesn't make it wrong. I love to hear someone say y'all....I use it too. One lady in my office even uses it in official email (she's a white lady).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this likely was already asked, but why are AA so offended by being called "articulate"? I would love it if someone told that to me.

Here is a good explanation written by Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/01/AR2007020101495.html

Well, ok, maybe not an anomaly. But, lots of AA -even in managerial positions at my agency- say things like "ax" instead of "ask." WTF is up with that? Would you correct them if you heard that? It's incorrect. And annoying. I ONLY hear this from AAs.

I'm AA and I will say this: I've NEVER paid attention to how I/other AAs say "ask". Never. Are you saying they pronounce it like "axe"? Seriously...I've never heard this before.

Are you for real? Are you feigning ignorance? You make it seem like PP is just being nit-picky. The ax/ask thing happens a lot.

Why are you getting defensive? I'm asking honestly. Mainly because I don't know how it even sound. Ax=axe? Aks? I'm not getting the pronunciation on "ax".

[Anonymous]

*sounds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this likely was already asked, but why are AA so offended by being called "articulate"? I would love it if someone told that to me.

Here is a good explanation written by Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/02/01/2007/AR2007020101495.html

Well, ok, maybe not an anomaly. But, lots of AA -even in managerial positions at my agency- say things like "ax" instead of "ask." WTF is up with that? Would you correct them if you heard that? It's incorrect. And annoying. I ONLY hear this from AAs.

Nope. They're educated adults in high positions at your company, they likely know that the Standard American English pronunciation is "ask."

The point of language is to communicate, I don't get worked up when I can clearly understand others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this likely was already asked, but why are AA so offended by being called "articulate"? I would love it if someone told that to me.

Here is a good explanation written by Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/01/AR2007020101495.html

Well, ok, maybe not an anomaly. But, lots of AA -even in managerial positions at my agency- say things like "ax" instead of "ask." WTF is up with that? Would you correct them if you heard that? It's incorrect. And annoying. I ONLY hear this from AAs.

I'm AA and I will say this: I've NEVER paid attention to how I/other AAs say "ask". Never. Are you saying they pronounce it like "axe"? Seriously...I've never heard this before.

OMG, it's ALL THE TIME.

Pronounced as "axe"? Let me just say that while I've never heard it...what's the problem? Southern people have their own little sayings too. Doesn't make it wrong. I love to hear someone say y'all....I use it too. One lady in my office even uses it in official email (she's a white lady).

Okay, y'all, we have a teenage troll here.

[Anonymous]

The PP is a troll because she says she's never heard a certain pronunciation of a word?

Are you bored or something? Just looking for an argument?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: The PP is a troll because she says she's never heard a certain pronunciation of a word?

Are you bored or something? Just looking for an argument?

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this likely was already asked, but why are AA so offended by being called "articulate"? I would love it if someone told that to me.

Here is a good explanation written by Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/02/01/2007/AR2007020101495.html

Well, ok, maybe not an anomaly. But, lots of AA -even in managerial positions at my agency- say things like "ax" instead of "ask." WTF is up with that? Would you correct them if you heard that? It's incorrect. And annoying. I ONLY hear this from AAs.

Nope. They're educated adults in high positions at your company, they likely know that the Standard American English pronunciation is "ask."

The point of language is to communicate, I don't get worked up when I can clearly understand others.

"I ain't got nuthin after this tornado..." yes, I understand what this person is saying, but it's stated incorrectly and pronounced wrong. They sound uneducated and inarticulate. So yes, they're communicating, but not like an educated person should. My 2 year old is an excellent communicator under this rubric. Similarly, "I axed you a question" does not sound educated. I don't believe the PP who says they've never heard this. It's fingernails on a chalk board for me.

So based on the Eugene Washington article, "eloquent" is the preferred term, rather than "articulate"? Or are all words describing the elegant use of language inappropriate?

[Anonymous]

02:40,

Speaking inarticulately is not a black thing. It's usually a poor thing. And though you may rise from that poverty, old habits (like language) die hard.

Honestly, the difference between "asked" and "axed" is not so great that one should even be irritated by it.

Do you have any other question(s) for AAs?

-AA female

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:02:40,

Speaking inarticulately is not a black thing. It's usually a poor thing. And though you may rise from that poverty, old habits (like language) die hard.

Honestly, the difference between "asked" and "axed" is not so great that one should even be irritated by it.

Do you have any other question(s) for AAs?

-AA female

My grandparents came to the US and didn't have a lot of money but they were insistent with my mom that she didn't speak the same way in the house as she did with her friends. This meant my mom, would use "ask" with me and insisted we speak that way in the house. It is tough when everyone around you speaks a certain way to not fall into the same habit. On top of that no matter where you are if you start dropping the local style of speaking and adapt a style of speaking associated with a higher socioeconomic class, your neighborhood friends and family may start to give you a hard time like you are "to good for them now". I'm from Long Island and someone that was white mentioned how her family gave her a hard time when she started speaking in what is more of a mid-Atlantic WASP style.

So the bottom line is it would be no different than a Boston accent or strong New York accent. Does this mean you compliment someone from Boston as being articulate because he says "park" instead of "pawk"?