In a parallel way, Anglos rarely hesitate when they are asked their
opinions on AAVE. Without pause, individuals will tell you what is wrong
with the language and the people who speak it. Complaints tend to fall into
two categories: (1) targeted lexical items or grammatical features which
cause immediate reaction; and (2) general issues of language purity and
authority. The purpose is the same, however, no matter the packaging: this
kind of criticism is the tool of choice when it comes to silencing the
peripheralized.
In their criticisms of AAVE, Anglos tend to focus on morphological
markers (for example, third person singular verb endings as in she sit, he
go, she say, he yell) and the pronunciation of specific words. One of the
most salient points of phonological variation which is strongly stigmatized
from outside the Black community might be called the great ask–aks
controversy.
The verb “to ask” is commonly defined as meaning to call for
information, to request a desired thing, or to inquire. There are two
pronunciations heard commonly in the U.S.: [æsk] and [æks]. In rapid
speech, a third pronunciation [æst] is often heard, derived from [æsk]. The
Oxford English Dictionary establishes this variation between [æsk] and
[æks] as very old, a result of the Old English metathesis^10 asc-, acs-. From
this, followed Middle English variation with many possible forms: ox, ax,
ex, ask, esk, ash, esh, ass, ess. Finally, ax or aks survived to almost 1600 as
the regular literary form, when ask became the literary preference.
Most people know nothing of the history of this form, and believe the
aks variant to be an innovation of AAVE speakers. In fact, it is found in
Appalachian speech, in some urban dialects in the New York metropolitan
area, and outside the U.S. in some regional varieties of British English.^11 I
have heard it from friends and Italian-American relatives in the Hudson
Valley. However, if I had pointed the usage out, there would have been
broad and angry denial.
Anglo-English speakers are eager and willing to point out this usage in
others which is characterized as the most horrendous of errors: