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To the best of my understanding the correct contraction of "Am I not" is "aren't I". However, growing up in Scotland I very frequently heard an alternative contraction "amn't I". I think this though is extremely uncommon outside of Scotland.

Now obviously the latter uses the correct part of the verb for "I" and the former does not. I was wondering if anyone knew how we got the wrong part of the verb in the right contraction, and the right part of the verb in the wrong contraction?

Fraser Orr
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    Because ain't I? became vulgar and we needed an alternative. – Anonym Jun 19 '15 at 17:55
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    Because amn't I joins /m/ and /n/ sounds and is difficult to speak, which defeats the purpose of contraction. – Tushar Raj Jun 19 '15 at 17:59
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    According to this website, aren't I is also incorrect. Am I not is normally not contracted. http://www.grammarerrors.com/grammar/arent-iam-i-not/ – Vlammuh Jun 19 '15 at 18:09
  • Aren't I is common, but ain't I is probly more common, though far less recorded. – John Lawler Jun 19 '15 at 18:16
  • @John Lawler Most English speakers are allegedly Indian (although I'm really making the point that ain't I sounds distinctly non-standard in the UK). – Edwin Ashworth Jun 19 '15 at 18:31
  • @TusharRaj: nevertheless, as the original poster states "amn't" is actually used by a significant minority of native English speakers, and I doubt they find it particularly difficult to say. – herisson Jun 19 '15 at 22:45
  • @sumelic What people find easy to say depends heavily on the native language they know. People who speak Semitic languages find the /ch/ sound easier than others, for instance (so Chanukah becomes Hanukah). – Barmar Jun 19 '15 at 23:04

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