Where does the expression ain’t come from?
When studying English (Brittish English), I always thought that ain’t is short for am not, just like isn’t is short for is not.  But in USA I found that most people used this expression in jargon for is not.
Ain’t I taught correctly?

You are right about the origin.

But it is considered to be sub-standard, and the
folk grabbed hold of it and use it for any negative
of the present tense of "to be"

You’ll hear "We ain’t" and "they ain’t" and so on.

Too bad a perfectly reasonable and useful contraction
of "am not" got ruined by the prescriptivists.

Cheers, BNJTOKYO

Dr. Language covered that subject in one of his articles in the Library, "Ain’t" Isn’t a Four-Letter Word.  And I ain’t kiddin’ you!

Thanks for your input, guys!

Stargzer, it was a very interesting article - thanks!

You’re welcome!  Many interesting articles lurk in yDc’s Library!

Just a little plug for our sponsors!  

  The word has been around since at least the early 17th century and is attributed to King James I who said "Ain’t" for I am not (or at least his influence).

   It is a word, however,  that reflects ones educational level and definitely not a word you want to use in a job interview if you’re looking for even a half-way decent job.

 —- Brian Costello
       Seattle, Wa.

definitely not a word you want to use in a job interview if you’re looking for even a half-way decent job.

Perhaps not at the Post Office. I have a wholly decent job, however, and use ain’t and MUCH worse on a routine basis. Any employer who would relegate me on the basis of a contraction, I wouldn’t want to work for anyway.

Just my 2 cents.

- PW
Seattle, Wa.

P.S. I think I’ll sign all my posts thus until Brian becomes simply Brian. :D

[quote author=Palewriter link=board=idiom;num=1079046378;start=0#6 date=03/15/04 at 21:04:42] . . .
- PW
Seattle, Wa.

P.S. I think I’ll sign all my posts thus until Brian becomes simply Brian. :D

Ain’t that a hoot and a holler from the Lone Star State, Pea-Dubya??  Or are ya gonna mosey on up t’ th’ Nuth-west??  

[quote author=KatyBr link=board=idiom;num=1079046378;start=0#8 date=03/15/04 at 22:52:35]
I vote for the old mosey, PW you’d love Seattle, it’s beautiful!

Katy
hoping Brian can take this gentle ribbin’.....

Dust off you hiking boots just in case, Katy . . .  

I vote for the old mosey, PW you’d love Seattle, it’s beautiful!

But isn’t it always, um, raining?

- PW
Seattle, Wa

Having lived most of my life in the PNW, PW, I can tell you that global warming has hit here with a vengeance.

The usual grey drizzle has been replaced for dozens of days in the spring and as many as 6 weeks in the summer with this very strange large glowing thing set amidst nothing but clear blue.

Bizarre!

It just ain’t normal!

Rosewoman
from Tacoma (and Seattle and Edmonds and Lacey and Lynden and Kirkland and Mountlake terrace and Everett)

[quote author=rosewoman link=board=idiom;num=1079046378;start=0#13 date=03/16/04 at 11:07:02]Having lived most of my life in the PNW, PW…

Now how strange would it be if PW’s middle initial was also N…

-TCW
Charlotte, NC

[quote author=Tim Ward link=board=idiom;num=1079046378;start=15#15 date=03/16/04 at 12:23:03]

Now how strange would it be if PW’s middle initial was also N…

-TCW
Charlotte, NC

That’s what I’m hopin’...