Fun Inquiries on Word Choice (part 1)

INeedSpoons

Colombia41 Posts

December 29 2014 14:00 GMT

I've been thinking a lot about contractions lately, especially how English is somewhat unique in how contractions mark pretty clear distinctions in formal/informal usage, both in writing and speech. Of particular interest to me isn't just how usage of certain words differs from the usage of a contracted form of those words, but also why certain contractions are chosen over others when several are possible in a certain set of un-contracted words.

To embark on my voyages across linguistics, I have a short poll on contraction choice in English, which I hope you'd be nice/kind/awesome/(some other adjective with a strong positive connotation) enough to participate in. I really appreciate it. :D

For all questions simply pick whichever response is most natural to you, or you would use most frequently.

Poll: Is Ana your sister?

(Vote): She's not my sister
(Vote): She isn't my sister

Poll: Is he depressed?

(Vote): He's not depressed
(Vote): He isn't depressed

Poll: Is Rodrigo your friend?

(Vote): Rodrigo's not my friend
(Vote): Rodrigo isn't my friend

Poll: Is she happy?

(Vote): She's not happy
(Vote): She isn't happy

Poll: For the questions above, would you use both choices equally as much?

No (33)

70%

Yes (14)

30%

47 total votes

Your vote: For the questions above, would you use both choices equally as much?

(Vote): Yes
(Vote): No

farvacola

United States18840 Posts

December 29 2014 14:16 GMT

I'm not allowed to use contractions outside of web posting anymore

micronesia

United States24745 Posts

December 29 2014 15:10 GMT

I don't use "isn't" very much for whatever reason.

NeThZOR

South Africa7387 Posts

December 29 2014 15:20 GMT

isn't is such an ugly word.

spinesheath

Germany8679 Posts

December 29 2014 15:42 GMT

On December 30 2014 00:20 NeThZOR wrote:
isn't is such an ugly word.

No it isn't!

It kind of is though.

brickrd

United States4894 Posts

December 29 2014 16:24 GMT

it depends on context a bit.

if i were only saying "she's not my sister," i would probably use "she's not."
on the other hand, if the thought continued afterward, i might use "she isn't" emphasized like this: "she ISN'T my SISTER, but..."

but overall i think i would lean toward "she's not/he's not" just because there's a bit of a verbal dip (linguists can tell me the proper word for what i'm saying) between the vowels in "she" and "isn't" that feels a little awkward. for the "rodrigo's not..." example though i think i would be slightly more likely to use "rodrigo isn't" just because rodrigo is a name and i would want to differentiate it

it's an interesting question. kinda on topic, i have a friend from scotland and we always poke fun at each other because he always says "i've not" whereas i (american-canadian) always say "i haven't"