“They all axed for you”

Why do New Orleanians sometimes pronounce ask as ax, as in the Meters’ song, They All Axed Fer You? The answer may surprise you. According to grammar maven Patricia O'Conner, the pronunciation dates back to the 8th century, when the predecessor of ask had two forms: ascian and acsian. In 1386, Chaucer wrote of “a man that ... cometh for to axe him of mercy.” And a 1536 translation of the Bible includes lines like “Axe and it shal be giuen you.” It was not until the 17th century that ask supplanted ax.

So if you say ax instead of ask, you’re just a stickler for tradition. Really old tradition.

Comments

[Pontchartrain Pete]

So what's the origin of "zinc" for "sink?"

[Pancho]

About "ax"...very interesting that is an old form. However, it still comes across as Black English which is fine among family and friends but IS a hindrance in the wider world. This is not a racist's post. I am Latino with Black grandkids. I went through this myself. I was born in Brooklyn and went to school in the midwest. They all thought I was a gangster, mostly because of the lack of the "r" in some words and the extra "r" in others. It was many years before I learned that the non-rhotic form was the norm in earlier English and the Northamerican "proper" speech is a newcomer.