Tuesday, November 27, 2007

The Kind Of Contraction That Produces A Laugh, Not A Baby

Last week I was talking to my nephew Jake, the four year old. He was doing something I thought he shouldn't be - like pulling the cat's tail - so I said something to the effect of, "Jake. Don't pull on the cat's tail!"

He said, "I amn't"

"You're what?" I replied.

"I AMN'T!" he said louder.

"OK, fine." I muttered. "Just knock off whatever it was you were doing."

I laughed to myself as I walked away, thinking he was quite
clever to come up with his own word. We're just so used to hearing the same old, same old, aren't we?

do not = don't
will not = won't
can not = can't
Is not = isn't
are not = aren't

I think there's a new word on the block people, and his name is amn't.

I am not = I amn't

3 comments:

Tui Snider said...

I do transcription and hear all sorts of crazy contractions and made-up verbs, but "amn't" is a new one on me.

One of my nephews used to say "our chuvvers" instead of "each other" and it was too stinking cute to point out to him.

Geggie said...

I like it. It works for me.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Jake. Sooo cute.
dixie