Let’s Settle The ‘Ask’ vs. ‘Ax’ Debate Right Now

Black History Year

PushBlack

History, Society & Culture

4.3 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 13 February 2025

⏱️ 3 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Has someone ever corrected you for ‘axing’ instead of ‘asking’? History shows that both are right. Here’s why we should keep speaking like we do. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work. The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith, Len Webb, and Lilly Workneh. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Julian Walker serves as executive producer." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:31.5	Has someone ever corrected you for axing instead of asking? Well, history shows that both are right.
0:39.6	Here's why we should keep speaking like we do.
0:42.7	I'm Len, and this is Two-Minute Black History,
0:45.8	what you didn't learn in school.
0:54.0	Do you say ask or ax?
0:57.1	Those who use the latter may have been corrected or shamed out of using it by an elder or a teacher,
1:02.4	but linguistic history shows there's nothing wrong with axe.
1:08.1	When the S and K are switched in ask and pronounced as acts or ax, it is a normal process that
1:17.2	linguistics call metathesis. Language changes over time and many of today's words were
1:23.3	pronounced differently in the past. A few centuries ago, for instance, Wasp sounded more like
1:29.7	Watts. For decades, the Axe pronunciation was wildly used in New England, in Middle States,
1:37.1	and the South. Many enslaved people assort their speech patterns from white indentured servants
1:43.0	who often heavily used acts.
1:46.0	It wasn't until the late 19th century that it became a stereotype attached to black English speakers.
1:52.0	Some linguists consider acts or acts an integral part of black American culture.
1:59.0	Anti-black folks seek to correct our speech to make us feel
2:02.5	uneducated and inferior.
	...

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