I think what he meant was how intonation and non-verbal communication changes the (phatic) meaning of a word or sentence, without the semantic definition changing. Kinda like using a prolonged "riiiiight" as either an expression of disbelief vs. using a prolonged "riiiiight" to signify you understand the other's point and are thinking about the implications of that point,
Ayuh is not a word, it's a language. If you spend more than a week in Maine you will hear an entire conversation only using variations of 'ayuh'. It's beautiful.
There's a few words like that. "Dude" is one of them. A cousin of mine and I had a three minute long conversation with that one word. Annoyed the crap out of everyone prestent - it was GLORIOUS! "Mm-hmm" is another good one. "Bruh" is also good.
And that was how I learned that an exasperated scream from the kitchen crew at a certain fast-food place was ‘Mandarin’ for “I don’t speak Spanish, you [technical glitch] idiot!” Also… cue for me to let the guys know it was time for their lunch break…
One word in English totally disproves this: fuck. You're fucking fucked if you think fucking up, fucking around, getting fucked, and just straight fucked are all the same lol
I'm picky about people's interpretation of home (Maine), especially on a linguistic level (because I work in linguists), and I must say, Ben, I was very pleasantly impressed with this bit. Thank you.
Ben, thank you so much. As one of the people who still uses the rare triple intake version I learned from my Grammy, I was ready for you to either not mention it at all or screw it up. But instead, you NAILED IT!!!! Thank you for representing us Maine-iacs so well 😊
As a non-Mainer who says ayuh, I have a theory as to how it originated, at least in my vocabulary. Say "yeah." Now draw out the y... it might sound something like "eeyeah." Over a while of lazily speaking, you end up with some sort of vowel sound before the yeah/yeh/yuh part. And there you have it, ayuh!
“Can’t just change the pronunciation of words to fit context” …so we’re just forgetting about the word “read”; it’s said different based on past/present tense
Well Arguably "Read" In The Present Tense And "Read" In The Past Tense Are Different Words, Just Spelled The Same, Since They Have Different Meanings And Pronounciations. However "A" And "The" Do Change Pronounciation Based On Context, Usually Pronounced With A Schwa, However Will Be Pronounced With A Different Vowel For Emphasis, Or In The Case Of "The", When Followed By A Vowel. (E.G. You Might Say Something Like "Thee Apple" Instead Of "Thuh Apple".)
@@rateeightx my coworker will happily tell you all about my existential crisis triggered by messy English this past Sunday. Had them laughing hysterically while I flailed helplessly at the insanity
Chiefly heard in Maine, ayuh is found throughout New England … A touch stone of New England speech, it possibly derives from the nautical aye (yes), which in turn probably comes from the early English yie (yes). Another theory has ayuh coming from the old Scots-American aye-yes meaning the same. Apr 14, 2011 for anybody who wanted to know but didn't wanna google it
My cousin moved from Vermont to Louisiana as a child. So, I have actually heard someone say "Ahuh, y'all." Easily one of the top 10 moments of my life.
My family uses this word. Nobody knew its origins. We're from Arizona and my grandmother heard someone say it over the cb radio back in the 70s. "Ayuh, ayuh, ya got that right." Nice to know where its from
Ayuh, I understand completely! Wicked Cool lesson! I spent summers in Maine and lived there as well as meeting and Marrying My Wonderful Husband of 34 years this September 26th!🦞💏😁👍
As a Mainer, I feel like "ayuh" is just what comes out of my mouth sometimes when I try to say "yeah" or "yup". Like I feel the need to get the air flowing before I make the y sound, and that makes the "ay-" part
This whole skit has me DYING. So fantastic. How much of the "Florida" persona in the bloopers is just spill over from being in character vs you? Also I LOVE how well you just nail the various states. Do you find it easier to be in person for a "state" when dressed like them, or can you pull them out without the clothing?
“You don’t just change words to fit context” Sir, my Polish polish would like to have some words with you, of course if you read it the way I read it you would understand.
Comes up in the Midwest now and then, but "yah, sure" is more common. Especially where there's a lot of Scandinavians. And no, we don't all talk like we're from Fargo. Some of us sound like we're from Kentucky.
And then you get the weirdo who has an accent that’s from… Normandy. Two Parisians were convinced I was from Normandy, or close to it, in spite of my French teacher saying, “No, I taught this one all the French they know. They’ve never been to France!” I really don’t know how my accent exists!
@@icarusbinns3156 normandy is a mix of british, german and a bit og dutch influences, so it makes sense a similar accent would develope if an american learned french especially from the east coast.
As a New Hampshire native, my headcanon is that ayuh was the original pronunciation of aye. People didn't use to put silent letters in words. They wrote what it sounded like to them. For example, Chaucer wrote "Aprille" and the poetry works when it's pronounced "a-pril-le". Pronounce the e, and aye comes out as ayuh.
It's likely yah or aye with a reduced vowel inserted to the beginning or end, same process that creates similar words in other English varieties. It's likely not a combination of the two, but a modification of one of them.
With Some Of The Pronounciations There, I'd've Guessed It Came From "Yup", With A Vowel Added At The Start, Like How We Get "Especially" From "Special".
As a native of the state I can tell you you did okay with that. But if you coming up to visit during mosquitoe and black fly season. Being about the 7 months we don't have snow on the ground. You want to find yourself some old woodsman fly dope. That stuff smelled so bad it would keep the bugs and the tourists away. Hehehe
accent change there is an "A-yup" here in the south. I think it is a bastardization of "ah, yep" which "yep" is just a general bastard "yes." I suspect its a "ja" with a southern draw.
"You don't just change the pronunciation of words to fit context!" Actually, we do. With quite a few words. Take a look at "the." It's pronounced "thee" or "thuh," depending on context. Someone in comments brought up "live/live." (live as in liver vs live as in jive). Then there's "read" (as in reed) and "read" (as in red). I'm sure there's more, but I'm tired and it's 3 am CST. Time for bed.
Ohh so I can’t change the pronunciation of words to fit context? I was asked to read the police’s lead on the incident regarding the lead factory, but I had read it beforehand.
“You can’t change the pronunciation of words just to fit the context” *Speaks New York* The Northeast would like to have an argument about that. “Speaks Northeast” is extremely context dependent based on pronunciation. It can show joy, excitement, anger, sadness, resentment, and pretty much any other emotion just in change in pronunciation and tone.
As a forensic linguist, I can’t tell you how much I enjoy the wordplay - brilliant!
What is a forensic linguist! I need more information.
@@wendydunn3964 essentially it’s a linguist that applies linguistics to the forensic context of law
Depending on where you're based, you may know this, but in Illinois we don't say probably. Universally in the state it's prob'ly.
@1m50s never looked at the asian languages .. the word for carp (the fish) also means love depending on context
@@davidyoungquist6074 can confirm
“You don’t change the pronunciation of words just to fit context…” I’m sure I read that live bands sometimes read to live.
Not to mention that you could contract a band that could contract a disease before the show.
English go grr
@@tengonadacluewhatsgutsprec1419 English go **brrrrrr**
I think what he meant was how intonation and non-verbal communication changes the (phatic) meaning of a word or sentence, without the semantic definition changing. Kinda like using a prolonged "riiiiight" as either an expression of disbelief vs. using a prolonged "riiiiight" to signify you understand the other's point and are thinking about the implications of that point,
I mean. English doesn't usually change the meaning of words entirely based on context. However, with that in mind, context is important here.
Ayuh is not a word, it's a language. If you spend more than a week in Maine you will hear an entire conversation only using variations of 'ayuh'. It's beautiful.
There's a few words like that. "Dude" is one of them. A cousin of mine and I had a three minute long conversation with that one word. Annoyed the crap out of everyone prestent - it was GLORIOUS! "Mm-hmm" is another good one. "Bruh" is also good.
Gov: "Words don't work based on context"
Sure...
I hope that was a joke or else I just laughed at nothing
@@comicaltuber p1
Kinda like the Invalid is Invalid for a scholarship.
My automatic response was "riiiiight"
Isn't that how conjugation works? If the context is the past you say "Did" vs the present "does" or "is doing".
"Words don't work based on context"
*stares in Floridian*
We need to have Maine officially join the Table!
Ayuh!
That would be wicked!
Yeah bub. Been waitin too damn long now.
Ayuh!
@@B3ll3r0ph0nt3s I like how it doesn’t think ayuh is English 😂
USA: “You don’t change the pronunciation of words just to fit context…”
Half the Asian world: "..."
And that was how I learned that an exasperated scream from the kitchen crew at a certain fast-food place was ‘Mandarin’ for “I don’t speak Spanish, you [technical glitch] idiot!”
Also… cue for me to let the guys know it was time for their lunch break…
For me it was learning "ma" has like 5 seperate words in Mandarin.
We totally do though, there’s a whole scene in “The Wire” doing it.
One word in English totally disproves this: fuck. You're fucking fucked if you think fucking up, fucking around, getting fucked, and just straight fucked are all the same lol
"words don't work based on context"
Vietnamese and Mandarin: are we a joke to you?
I THOUGHT THE SAME THING
Thats Maine's version of bless your heart 😂😂😂😂
Pretty much. Lol
Ayuh
A nice homage to the Abbot and Costello “who’s on first” routine. You’re always at the top of your game, Mr Brainard.
I love that joke. But also fyi, you are the second comment.
Ayuh.
I'm picky about people's interpretation of home (Maine), especially on a linguistic level (because I work in linguists), and I must say, Ben, I was very pleasantly impressed with this bit. Thank you.
It was really nice of Stephen King to invent Maine while in the frenzy of a coca¡n binge. Such a pretty state.
everyone always thinks of stephen king when they think of Maine but we also have The King of Maine (Spose)
Ben, thank you so much. As one of the people who still uses the rare triple intake version I learned from my Grammy, I was ready for you to either not mention it at all or screw it up. But instead, you NAILED IT!!!! Thank you for representing us Maine-iacs so well 😊
As a non-Mainer who says ayuh, I have a theory as to how it originated, at least in my vocabulary. Say "yeah." Now draw out the y... it might sound something like "eeyeah." Over a while of lazily speaking, you end up with some sort of vowel sound before the yeah/yeh/yuh part. And there you have it, ayuh!
Uh... yeah!
@@KenKopin haha yep
Yeah that's how I always figured it came about.
Ayuh. I'm a Mainer, and "ayuh" is just what comes out of my mouth when I try to say "yeah", so this is my theory.
OMG. I am from Maine and this is so right. I drove people crazy saying ayuh when I moved to a different state.
In Vermont, it's usually got a clear "p" at the end, and often the first "a" is under-stressed or absent. So "a-YUP" or just "YUP"
Big Macintosh is from Vermont?
So like the skit thing from king of the hill where everybody just says yes yup or mmhmm??
“Can’t just change the pronunciation of words to fit context”
…so we’re just forgetting about the word “read”; it’s said different based on past/present tense
I mean, technically that's conjugation, not context, and the only weird thing is that we spell them the same way. :pushes glasses up nose:
“I am not content with this content.”
Well Arguably "Read" In The Present Tense And "Read" In The Past Tense Are Different Words, Just Spelled The Same, Since They Have Different Meanings And Pronounciations. However "A" And "The" Do Change Pronounciation Based On Context, Usually Pronounced With A Schwa, However Will Be Pronounced With A Different Vowel For Emphasis, Or In The Case Of "The", When Followed By A Vowel. (E.G. You Might Say Something Like "Thee Apple" Instead Of "Thuh Apple".)
@@rateeightx my coworker will happily tell you all about my existential crisis triggered by messy English this past Sunday. Had them laughing hysterically while I flailed helplessly at the insanity
Eeeeee-yuh also may mean we aren't sure but will "go along with it". You did nail the short ayuh at the end. This makes up for the most haunted video.
Yes more table. This is one of my favorite series on youtube
Chiefly heard in Maine, ayuh is found throughout New England … A touch stone of New England speech, it possibly derives from the nautical aye (yes), which in turn probably comes from the early English yie (yes). Another theory has ayuh coming from the old Scots-American aye-yes meaning the same.
Apr 14, 2011
for anybody who wanted to know but didn't wanna google it
My cousin moved from Vermont to Louisiana as a child. So, I have actually heard someone say "Ahuh, y'all." Easily one of the top 10 moments of my life.
My family uses this word. Nobody knew its origins. We're from Arizona and my grandmother heard someone say it over the cb radio back in the 70s. "Ayuh, ayuh, ya got that right." Nice to know where its from
Ayuh,ayuh,ayuh….Ya pretty much nailed it bud
“You Don’t just change the pronunciation of a word to fix context”
Live
Read
Lead
Wind
Content
Contract
Native Mainer here - that's about right!
New Hampshirite here from Conway, we use it too
Ayuh, I understand completely! Wicked Cool lesson! I spent summers in Maine and lived there as well as meeting and Marrying My Wonderful Husband of 34 years this September 26th!🦞💏😁👍
Happy 34th Anniversary! I hope you'll have a wonderful celebration. We'll be 32 years on the 23rd!😁
As a mainer, ayuh
Love these linguistics lessons from the state! Hope to see the Midwest's 'ope' soon!
Welp (knee slap), time for ope
As a Mainer, I feel like "ayuh" is just what comes out of my mouth sometimes when I try to say "yeah" or "yup". Like I feel the need to get the air flowing before I make the y sound, and that makes the "ay-" part
“George King?” 😂🤣😂 Ayuh close enough😆 I can’t get enough of the bloopers🤣😂
"You don't just change the pronunciation of words to fit context!"
*Laughter in tonal languages*
Context is exactly how words work
We do say it pretty much this way sometimes in Norwegian🇧🇻
0:48 love the shades of Who's on First
Third base!
This whole skit has me DYING. So fantastic. How much of the "Florida" persona in the bloopers is just spill over from being in character vs you?
Also I LOVE how well you just nail the various states. Do you find it easier to be in person for a "state" when dressed like them, or can you pull them out without the clothing?
“You don’t just change words to fit context”
Sir, my Polish polish would like to have some words with you, of course if you read it the way I read it you would understand.
Word usage and creation is so lovely
hey dude I like that all your vids have facts in them. and I'm learning more about the USA than most a there ways
Ayuh, making me miss the sound of my homeland.
I can see the similarities between that and “uh. Yup.” 😅 The “a’yuh a’yuh a’yuh” will be stuck in my brain now
I live in Maine, You nailed it!
As a mainer, I can confirm this true.
I don’t think ive heard “yuh” used so many times in 3 minutes
Comes up in the Midwest now and then, but "yah, sure" is more common. Especially where there's a lot of Scandinavians. And no, we don't all talk like we're from Fargo. Some of us sound like we're from Kentucky.
i've noticed older people say it more
@@cageybee7221 yeah, it's dying out, sadly.
And then you get the weirdo who has an accent that’s from… Normandy.
Two Parisians were convinced I was from Normandy, or close to it, in spite of my French teacher saying, “No, I taught this one all the French they know. They’ve never been to France!”
I really don’t know how my accent exists!
@@icarusbinns3156 hahaha! That's great!
@@icarusbinns3156 normandy is a mix of british, german and a bit og dutch influences, so it makes sense a similar accent would develope if an american learned french especially from the east coast.
As a New Hampshire native, my headcanon is that ayuh was the original pronunciation of aye. People didn't use to put silent letters in words. They wrote what it sounded like to them. For example, Chaucer wrote "Aprille" and the poetry works when it's pronounced "a-pril-le". Pronounce the e, and aye comes out as ayuh.
We need more of this.
Love this! Get NY and other states I on this conversation. 😎
I’m gonna be honest, I say ‘Ayuh’ all the time. It’s the Maine curse.
Oh bless his heart.....
That was an interesting one! Thanks for sharing!
I'm from Massachusetts and I say this. Though when I write it, I usually spell it "ayup"
“Words don’t work based on context”
The Japanese language would like to have a word with you
I grew up in Northern Ontario Canada and this sounds perfectly normal to me
Really enjoyable
Hey Ben. Is it just me, or has Louie been losing weight over the past 50 years or so? (The Levee's)
It's likely yah or aye with a reduced vowel inserted to the beginning or end, same process that creates similar words in other English varieties. It's likely not a combination of the two, but a modification of one of them.
Ooh ooh do NEPA in with a Philly/Pittsburgh skit! They have their own language in Northeast PA.
Henyabonics?
@@Dtuba15 YESSSSSS!
Ayuh Ayuh Ayuh I’m listening
"You dont just change the oronunciation of words to fit context."
The Spanish language would like a word.
You can do the south as a collective or just specific regions (my home state of SC?)
haha I was gonna down here, we still got that a bit, it sounds a bit like "ahh-yup" when we say it but I bet that's when it came from lol
"That was a quick one." _"Ayuh."_ "I should stop talking." _"Ayuh."_ "... ... ..."
Holy crap, he _can_ learn.
I just realized I say uh-yup.... grew up in a NH border town with Maine lol
Lol Reminds me of the situation with Wisconsin and Michigan's aye. Lol
It's leaked into NH too. Me and my dad say it at least. I got it from him, ain't got a clue where he got it from tho cause he's from Ohio.
This is true. I find my self saying the "quick one" all the time.
So you’re saying it’s contagious😂
@@SarcasticasKel Ayuh. In New England at least.
@@ltpinecone lol I’m in RI & never use it or hear anyone use it. So maybe it hasn’t come south enough😊
@@ltpinecone where you from? Would be cool if you were close 😂 I rarely ever meet people online from New Hampshire
Ah-Yup in RI ❤️
I ♥️ you Ben!!!
'Yuh. wicked good job, bub! Though round my family I've heard "yuh" as less annoyed and more interested
Gov: “You don’t change the pronunciation of words just to fit context…”
The South: “ Bless his heart.”
More if these please?
With Some Of The Pronounciations There, I'd've Guessed It Came From "Yup", With A Vowel Added At The Start, Like How We Get "Especially" From "Special".
hey, Ben! I love your videos and could I play as maine for your videos please!
As a mainer I approve
Will this series continue?
Edit: If so, can we get PA?
As a native of the state I can tell you you did okay with that. But if you coming up to visit during mosquitoe and black fly season. Being about the 7 months we don't have snow on the ground. You want to find yourself some old woodsman fly dope. That stuff smelled so bad it would keep the bugs and the tourists away.
Hehehe
Ayuh is the same as saying “bless your heart” in the south.
Dang it, now I gotta look up amendments 18 & 21
Right prohibition… that’s def instep a control thing
Please do New York.
Please do one about oklahoma
accent change there is an "A-yup" here in the south. I think it is a bastardization of "ah, yep" which "yep" is just a general bastard "yes." I suspect its a "ja" with a southern draw.
In NE Ohio I hear 'ayuh', 'ayup', 'yyyyyyyyuh', 'yyyyyyyup', and 'yep yep' to make a few.
Contrary to Maine's claim, the ending proves that the Gov CAN learn.
i think the rest of the country adapted in to the "yup" version over time
GOLD!
Gov: "You don't change how you pronounce the word to fit the context."
Me: The word "Read" would like to fight you on that.
As someone not from Maine, this exists outside of Maine...
It's like the Gov hasn't ever been to the Midwest where "ope!" Can mean many things...
Oh buddy you should have contacted me for Maine dialect lessons 😂😂😂 You did pretty good but I can still tell that you're not a local lol
"You don't just change the pronunciation of words to fit context!" Actually, we do. With quite a few words. Take a look at "the." It's pronounced "thee" or "thuh," depending on context. Someone in comments brought up "live/live." (live as in liver vs live as in jive). Then there's "read" (as in reed) and "read" (as in red). I'm sure there's more, but I'm tired and it's 3 am CST. Time for bed.
You should do one on uff da
Other colloquialisms: all stove up, roads are wicked greasy, can’t get there from here, wicked Pissah, and snow machining
Ohh so I can’t change the pronunciation of words to fit context?
I was asked to read the police’s lead on the incident regarding the lead factory, but I had read it beforehand.
Flawless.
10
Haven’t you heard?!? Texas is the new Florida.
Why do I keep thinking Goofy 😂
“You can’t change the pronunciation of words just to fit the context”
*Speaks New York*
The Northeast would like to have an argument about that. “Speaks Northeast” is extremely context dependent based on pronunciation. It can show joy, excitement, anger, sadness, resentment, and pretty much any other emotion just in change in pronunciation and tone.
The [technical glitch] word?
I'm surprised they don't have an inhaled yeah as well
Good chunk of American language is base in context
With what little I know of East Asian language.. oh boy does the Government have alot of learning to do about pronunciation 🤣🤣
Please use “ope” for Minnesota. 😄
And from Stephen King, "You can't get there from here."