Ain’t

“Ain’t ain’t a word”. That is what my parents used to tell me all the time when I was growing up. It was their way to try to get myself and my siblings to use proper English.

It occurred to me last week that not only is ain’t not a word, people don’t seem to be using it anymore. It has fallen out of common language and just seems to be used in things like songs, and older songs at that.

In thinking about this, I realized that even though this is a good thing, since using an improper word is poor English, it has been replaced by an abundance of foul language.

What foul language? Well, pardon this but words like shit, crap, and, the all time favorite, fuck.The last one seems to be used in abundance. Some people can’t say a full sentence without adding in the F word at least once. I think they think it is proper, necessary and it adds a punch to what they are saying.

I’m sorry but that is just plain bullshit. I think it is a sign of a weak vocabulary that a person needs to use one particular swear word to punctuate their language. It shows a lack of imagination and it makes me sad. Sad because it has permeated our culture until it is just accepted as commonplace.

In some movies, if they bleeped out the F word, the whole dialogue of the movie would be bleep, bleep, bleepity, bleep bleep. They try to justify this by saying that in real life, in cities like Boston, that is how people talk. Really? So because people are showing off their lack of intellect and imagination, we should just copy that and act like it is how everyone should talk? That is a huge excuse for not wanting to put more thought into writing a script and instead to rely on the F word to express emotion.

In the interest of being completely honest, I do use foul language. I mean, I used “bullshit” earlier. And there are times that I will use all the other words. And, when I am really upset and pissed off, I can reel off swear words like a well-seasoned sailor.

But, in ordinary every day speaking, I don’t punctuate my language with the F word or any other bad word. I don’t think it is necessary and think it will diminish people’s opinions of me.

My parents were right, ain’t ain’t a word. But they also taught us to use as large a vocabulary as possible. To not be afraid to use a better word rather than just an ordinary one. Also, above all, to keep our language clean and clear. We may not always follow their advice but being lectured at throughout our childhoods managed to permeate our thought process. Ain’t that amazing???