Date:  Thu, 30 Oct 1997 10:21:44 -0500
From:  Robert Ness <ness[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]DICKINSON.EDU>
Subject: Re: "Hit" (was Appalacian [sic] languages)

A number of words developed an intrusive /t/ after /s/ in ME as in ME
listnen from OE hlysnan, or ME beheste from OE behaes. I wonder if "ast"
is an instance showing the phenomenon is ongoing.
    Both ASKEN and AXEN are found in Chaucer too. On Thu, 30 Oct 1997,
Ron
Butters wrote:

> Terry asks:
> >My question is, does the metathetical
> >pronunciation of "ask"
> >characteristic of AAVE preserve an
> >earlier form, or does it reflect a
> >contemporary performance transposition?
>
> Since both ACSIAN and ASCIAN are found in Old English, my guess is that the
> variation has always been there. My memory is that one finds both in 19th and
> 20th century British dialects--i.e., it appears to be widespread and common
> throughout history. In ddition, of course, it could continue to be reinforced
> by being continually "reinvented" in the child-language acquistion process.
>
> In other words, Terry's question cannot be answered because the situation is
> not an either/or one.
>
> By the way (as Don Lance notes), AKS/ASK is not (I think) any more
> characteristic of AAVE than of many other contemporary dialects of English.
>
> As for D. Long's question about AST (pres.), this ils certainly common in
> white speech in North Carolina. Will someone plese go check Orton and see if
> it is found in English dialects as well?
>