Why do black people pronounce the word "ask" like "axe"?

Question

I hope I'm not coming off as racist but it just really bothers me. And when someone talks to me and they pronounce that word that way, I can't help but correct them, which is bad because they accuse me of being racist!

Answer 1

Oh, please. "Ask" a better question.

PS: I know how to pronounce words.  

Answer 2

I work with a black female supervisor with a college education who cannot speak proper English.  She uses terms like "He be went," "He be workin'..."  or "I be axen him..."  That is so pathetic.  It can be very distracting listening to her talk.  

On the other hand, our UPS driver, who is a black man, is very articulate (and doesn't have a colledge education!).

Answer 3

F ur world ******

Answer 4

This is one the few reasons I come to Yahoo Answers, to see questions like this.

Because you know this question won't come up on Larry King. Well Maybe on Family Guy...

I can invision Stewie giving the evil eye right now.

Is it me or is Brian the talking dog the only one that can hear Stewie Axe a complex question?

Answer 5

That's kinda stereotypical. I mean, not all black people say it like that. I've heard white people even say it like that. If it bothers you so much then don't talk to them I guess.

Answer 6

I'm black and I pronounce it "ask"

You do realize that the black people you know are not all the black people in the whole world.

It's also quite rude to correct someone's speech. It has nothing to do with being racist or not..it's just improper to do.

Answer 7

People mispronounce words all the time and it's not rude to correct them. I correct people when they're speaking something incorrectly and I correct people's grammar. I can't help it. You're just passing on your knowledge to another person; there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, in my eyes.

In response to someone above me. There's a difference between coming off condescending and trying to be informative when you're trying to correct someone. It's not necessarily a bad thing to help your peers out as long as you do it in a decent fashion and not a "holier than thou" way. I would never correct a stranger, but my friends don't mind and sometimes ask that I correct them if they're mispronouncing something. I sure don't mind if someone corrects me, as long as they do it properly.

Answer 8

If you don't know the answer, you should axe your Ont; do you know what I'm sayin'? Do you know what I mean? Axe your Ont.

Answer 9

I know!Im not African-American,I'm just African and we don't pronounce ask that way. so its quite weird-i actually find it annoying but i think it would still be offensive if even i said so. but im not racist either. there's nothing wrong with correcting someone-i even have to correct some of my white friends (sheesh and im not even english)

Answer 10

It is becoming not only tolerated, but accepted, and sometimes comsidered "cool" to be ghetto even when someone is educated.

Answer 11

It's laziness plain and simple. I think the consonant cluster throws people off but that is no excuse. I speak German and there are far more complex clusters in that language. That word really isn't hard to pronounce, and I don't care if your Black or green, it sounds horrible. AS-K is really not hard to say.

EDIT: ALL Black people do not pronounce it this way.

Answer 12

Why do you have to say all blacks say it? And you are racist you idiot

Answer 13

You're only coming off as prejudiced, not necessarily racist.  Most people pronounce it that way because that's what they grew up hearing. It is hard on the ears, but many people speak in slang.  It doesn't mean they don't know the correct way to speak.  They just choose not to, especially in informal situations.  Don't correct your peers' grammar.  It's rude.

EDIT:

"Why would it be rude to correct them when I'm teaching them the correct way of saying it?"

It is always rude to correct the grammar of someone who is your peer or superior when they are talking.  It unnecessarily embarrasses them.  You're not their parent or teacher.  If you are looking at something they've typed and submitted to you, fine.  Otherwise, leave well enough alone.  You don't need to "teach" them anything, and aren't necessarily doing so.  As I already stated, many people who use slang already know how to speak.  They're not making a State of the Union Address, for God's sake.

Answer 14

Its basically because of their background of education and accent

taught to them in school. Also the locality in which they live

also contribute a lot. Never take things so seriously. Its all in

a game.  Talk to them politely and try to correct them pleasingly.

They will surely beaware of your concern.Hope that would be fine

Answer 15

your not racist, racist is where you hate one for there skin color.... and MOST black people say axe instead of ask because they want to be diffirent and stand out instead of doing what is proper...like what other people do. And there is no such thing as "ebonics" if there was ALL black people would talk the same but the ones that think there hard and stuff(you know all ''hood'') have to make them there voice sound diffirent. My black teacher who's normal say's ask right so yeaaaaaaa

Answer 16

I agree, ebonics is not proper English and it sounds ignorant, and it's not because of the color of your skin, it's because of the way you talk. I don't like it either.

People who choose to speak in slang are not my peers, thank you.

Answer 17

habit-