[QUOTE=acsenray]
What exactly is offensive about it?
[/QUOTE]
It implies that there’s precisely one dialect which covers the whole of the southeast. A broad brush which ignores a lot of regional variation, it’s about as meaningful as saying ‘the dialect of northern England’.
Well then it isn’t offensive, but its use of the term “[dialect] of Southeast England” is inaccurate. It’s a Wiki. Why not fix it?
Currently it says:
Would this be more accurate?
Historically, it was present in many dialects of the English language, but not in the southeastern England dialect that became the standard.
Yes, exactly.
I always thought that it would make sense as a contraction of “am” and “not,” much more than “ain’t.” Gonna snatch this one for use, and spread it around.
But I amn’t going to forgoe credit where it’s due!