Blog Post 1

When reflecting on the past classes that I have taken during my educational journey, I cannot explicitly recall being told not to use a word like ain’t. However, that does not mean that it has never happened before. Though my memory of the rules taught in school are very blurry, I can safely assume many of the prescriptive rules I learned in school taught me how to speak in a “proper” manner. Basically, these prescriptive rules are the reason that I am even typing the way that I am right now. I was never told that ain’t was less valid than aren’t, but I did know that ain’t was not preferred compared to other words. I was most likely taught this, or I developed an understanding myself. There was never really a reason as to why some forms were not preferred. The teachers most likely stated that it was an incorrect way of speaking without giving an actual explanation, which makes sense considering a young child probably would not understand, or even care for an actual explanation. I was most likely taught not to use the double negative through the use of textbooks and activities done in class. Even when looking around a classroom, you can see examples of prescriptive rules because of educational posters on the walls. They are not direct, but indirect ways of teaching children what is “right”, and what is “wrong”. I personally do not use ain’t with anyone. I also do not use the double negative. It is because of the way that I was taught to speak and write.

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