Are contractions derived from speach?

Lance_in_Shanghai · Apr 15, 2007

Are contractions derived from speech?

I wish to preface my remarks with the usual disclaimer: As always, when quoting dialog (or dialogue), diction depiction is never wrong.

Writers use contractions more nowadays than 50 years ago. We probably shouldn't (there I go) try to eliminate them but sometimes I wonder if we don't go too far in trying to depict what may actually be simply slurred speech rather than an actual contraction. I am referring to words that end with an "R" sound folowed by "are" such as "there're" and "where're". To my ear, they sound exactly like "there are" and "where are" except the final vowel sound is less open. Are we really speaking with a contraction in these instances or merely slurring the "are" into "ur"? Should writers use these questionable contractions or just stick with "there are" and "where are"?

Sandi LeFaucheur · Apr 16, 2007

I've never actually seen there're or where're.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 16, 2007

Lance_in_Shanghai said:
I wish to preface my remarks with the usual disclaimer: As always, when quoting dialog (or dialogue), diction depiction is never wrong.

Writers use contractions more nowadays than 50 years ago. We probably shouldn't (there I go) try to eliminate them but sometimes I wonder if we don't go too far in trying to depict what may actually be simply slurred speech rather than an actual contraction. I am referring to words that end with an "R" sound folowed by "are" such as "there're" and "where're". To my ear, they sound exactly like "there are" and "where are" except the final vowel sound is less open. Are we really speaking with a contraction in these instances or merely slurring the "are" into "ur"? Should writers use these questionable contractions or just stick with "there are" and "where are"?

I've never seen either of these used as a contraction. These should sound like "there are" and "where are" because this is what people are actually saying, even if they slur a bit.

Maryn · Apr 16, 2007

Another person who's yet to see there're or where're in print--and man, either one would have leapt from the page.

So stick with there are and where are. We'll let you know when and if the change occurs, okay?

Maryn

maestrowork · Apr 16, 2007

No, you don't use contraction with "where're" or "there're."

jnesvold · Apr 16, 2007

I've seen them, but only in the pages of comic books. Wolverine once even used "me're" (as in "You and me're gonna have a little talk.""

Maryn · Apr 17, 2007

I suspect the text of graphic novels is less bound by the constraints of regular novels, though. I haven't read many, but they get away with language uses an editor would not allow to pass.

Maryn, whose kids are amassing vast collections of graphic novels

Birol · Apr 17, 2007

jnesvold said:
I've seen them, but only in the pages of comic books. Wolverine once even used "me're" (as in "You and me're gonna have a little talk.""

That sounds as if it speaks more to characterization than anything. "Me're" gives me a very clear visual of Wolverine's personality and mindset.

Silver-tongued Devil · Jun 7, 2007

From what I gather from my ESL students who have mostly been taught by British teachers in the past, this is very common among Brits. Are there any Brits reading who can comment? Yanks converted into Brits don't count.

Sandi LeFaucheur · Jun 8, 2007

Silver-tongued Devil said:
From what I gather from my ESL students who have mostly been taught by British teachers in the past, this is very common among Brits. Are there any Brits reading who can comment? Yanks converted into Brits don't count.

Posted earlier in the thread:

I've never actually seen there're or where're.

I'm a Brit converted to a Canuck. Does that "count"?

Dawnstorm · Jun 8, 2007

I've seen both "where're" and "there're", and now that I've googled them, I've seen a lot more.

(I'm not a Brit; I'm not even a native speaker. Heh.)

***

Isn't "cannot" --> "can't" interesting? It's the only contraction that changes the pronunciation of the verb's vowel I can think of. (May not change in all dialects, but still...).

Anne Lyle · Jun 8, 2007

I'm a Brit and I don't recall seeing those contractions. We contract "will" with almost anything - there'll*, these'll - but "are"... not so much. Perhaps because it's too much like the end of the words it is being attached to, which makes it hard to read.

"There'll be bluebirds over the White Cliffs of Dover" dates back to WWII, so hardly a new trend!

Anne Lyle · Jun 8, 2007

Dawnstorm said:
Isn't "cannot" --> "can't" interesting? It's the only contraction that changes the pronunciation of the verb's vowel I can think of. (May not change in all dialects, but still...).

How about "are not" -> "ent" (several Northern British dialects) or "ain't" (Cockney as well as US)?

(Not to mention the fact that ent/ain't is also a contraction of "have not"!)

Are contractions derived from speach?

Lance_in_Shanghai

Sandi LeFaucheur

Jamesaritchie

Maryn

I Tried

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

jnesvold

Maryn

I Tried

Birol

Around and About

Silver-tongued Devil

Sandi LeFaucheur

Dawnstorm

punny user title, here

Anne Lyle

Fantastic historian

Anne Lyle

Fantastic historian