Talk:aren't

I aren't
We're having a discussion of this on LHC. I suggested that the reason for saying "aren't" instead of "amn't" is that "mnt" is forbidden by a phonological rule. The Irish pronunciation is something like /ɑmənt/, thus obviating the rule. (ainm also has an epenthetic vowel.) Someone else said that, in parts of Yorkshire, "I aren't" is used. Can anyone confirm this without linking to the LHC thread, which is in a private forum? PierreAbbat 12:17, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

ar'n't
Doesn't ar'n't represent its pronunciation? --Backinstadiums (talk) 11:46, 22 February 2020 (UTC)

Two syllable pronunciations
Some people say this with a short i in the 2nd syllable when syntactically stressed. It's rare, but I wouldnt say it's incorrect. "Arrint you going to put some pants on???" etc. thoughts? — Soap — 12:33, 22 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I shouldve checked other dictionaries .... m-w.com has it, though they put it as ə rathjer than the IPA short i.  i'll use that. — Soap — 14:19, 23 July 2020 (UTC)

Homonym?
The etymology for the contraction of "am not" says that this comes from the homonym "an't." However, in rhotic dialects, these words would not be homonyms, because "aren't" is /ɑrnt/ while "an't" would not contain /r/ (I do not know the pronunciation, but based on the spelling of "an't" and the pronunciation of "am," shouldn't it be /ænt/?). --Dijekjapen (talk) 17:29, 7 August 2021 (UTC)


 * Ditto on this. That explanation doesn't explain why this form came to be in rhotic dialects too. – Nixinova [&zwnj;T|C] 01:55, 3 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Dictionary.com seems to think maybe hypercorrection? spelling aren't by r-less speakers; ar was later substituted for the long a by speakers who regularly pronounce pre-consonantal r – Nixinova [&zwnj;T|C] 01:57, 3 March 2024 (UTC)