Spelling of "Ax"

[on:]

Everywhere I see the word "ax", that's how it's spelled. So I'm wondering, who decided that that's how it's spelled? Is it mentioned in the show? I originally assumed that it was spelled "aks", as in it was a typo that evolved into a spelling. Doesn't that make more sense?

[Reply #1 on:]

They said his pronunciation was archaic, not the spelling. I assume it is still spelled "ask". It probably says 'ax' or 'axe' in the captions, but I'm too lazy/dont care enough to check.

edit: Fine, fine. You convinced me to look. In the subtitles it says 'axe'. Curious...

[Reply #2 on:]

I see... but are the subtitles to be trusted? Are they not often incorrect and self-contradicting? Thanks for looking it up though, parasite?.

[Reply #3 on:]

Yeah, subtitles are'nt very reliable. Do any of the other characters ever say it? I know leela says it again in parasites lost. I'm gonna check there too.

edit again: Ahhhh crap. It's 'ax' in Parasites lost. I'm all distraught now 

[Reply #4 on:]

"ax" and "axe" are both accepted spellings of a tool used primarily for wood-chopping, larger than a hatchet.

[Reply #5 on:]

...Yeah

But I'm looking for the spelling of the Futuristic version of the word "ask".

[Reply #6 on:]

Ax/axe.

Because the simplest answer tends to be the best answer.

[Reply #7 on:]

I always thought it'd be spelled like "aks." Evolving from ask to aks seems more realistic than evolving from ask to ax or axe.

[Reply #8 on:]

Axe/ax is an existing word.  A lot easier to use an existing word.

[Reply #9 on:]

   

Originally posted by Nixorbo:
... the future is inefficient.

<cough>
   

Anyway, I still think it is spelled ask, but pronounced 'ax'

[Reply #10 on:]

I think 9it might be ax.

[Reply #11 on:]

 

Originally posted by Beamer:
I always thought it'd be spelled like "aks." Evolving from ask to aks seems more realistic than evolving from ask to ax or axe.

Yeah, that's the way I see it too.

I was surprised when I saw other people spell it "ax" or "axe", so that's why I started this thread. Anyone else have an opinion? Proof of spelling? Crazy other idea of how it's spelled, such as "awques"?

[Reply #12 on:]

Yeah, I always thought it was "aks" too. That's how I imagined it until I saw it written (or typed) down and then it confused me for a while when I saw "ax(e)". After a while, though, I got used to it and kinda starting thinking that was the right way to spell it anyway.

[Reply #13 on:]

I always thougyht it was spelled axe but now that I think of it "aks" does make more sense...

[Reply #14 on:]

Go Wikipedia!:

"[In Futurama] English itself has also evolved from today, but still remains comprehensible. These changes include the disuse of the word Christmas in favor of Xmas (with the X pronounced, as in "ex-mas" ) and the pronunciation of ask metathesizing as "aks". Ironically, "aks" represents an earlier pronunciation of the word, with the modern "ask" an innovation, so the 31st century sees the word coming full circle."

[Reply #15 on:]

It could also be ackes.

[Reply #16 on:]

 

Originally posted by Benders_Fan:
It could also be ackes.

well... if you are counting that then I guess it could be "acs" or "ahx" or "ahcs" or "ahxe"

[Reply #17 on:]

 

Originally posted by jamdav86:
Go Wikipedia!:

and the pronunciation of ask metathesizing as "aks". Ironically, "aks" represents an earlier pronunciation of the word, with the modern "ask" an innovation, so the 31st century sees the word coming full circle."

Cool, so I was right... (Assuming the user who submitted that had his facts correct)

Edit: Er, wait, that doesn't necessarily refer to the spelling... Maybe parasite? is right.

[Reply #18 on:]

Im thinking that maybe people who have a strong accent say ask but axe? maybe in New york it is comenly said and sounds like Axe

[Reply #19 on:]

 

Originally posted by FryBound:
Im thinking that maybe people who have a strong accent say ask but axe? maybe in New york it is comenly said and sounds like Axe

Yah maybe because of accent 

[Reply #20 on:]

wtf is ax? future slang maybe?
 http://www.createforum.com/phpbb/index.php?mforum=kazango

[Reply #21 on:]

IT IS IN BAD SANTA WHEN FRY SEZ CHRISTMAS AND LEELA CORRECTS HIM WITH XMAS AND SEZ IT IS JUST THE SAME WAY YOU SAY ASK INSTEAD OF AK

[Reply #22 on:]

Yeah. And it's also just like "sez" and "says"...

I think it's just future slang, like kangoza said.

[Reply #23 on:]

ax, axe, aks, ahcs or ahxe, it's all good people  ! The only people who know it for sure are the creators I would say. My oppinion it's aks but whatever

[Reply #24 on:]

I always trust Wikipedia implicitally. "aks" it is.

[Reply #25 on:]

in the Futurama comics, isnt it spelled 'axe'?

[Reply #26 on:]

I've always thought of it as ax...

doesn't really matter i suppose.

[Reply #27 on:]

Isnt it like an arcayick pronuncitaion (i think they said that)...plus i dont know how to spell it...

[Reply #28 on:]

I think it is a joke because even though it is spelled ask some people prononce it "ax", it is a joke aimed at the people who are to lazy to pronounce it ask. I am not sure of the spelling though but I think it is a joke to show that people got lazier in the year 3000 and makes fun of the people who are lazy now.

[Reply #29 on:]

How many other words in futurama had weird Pronunciation?

and i would belive that ask = ax/axe in futurama.

     
all though english can be confusing...

[Reply #30 on:]

OK, as a nit-picking nerdite, I have to point out that the word "ask" is pronounced as both "ask" and "axe" in Futurama, depending on the episode, and possibly the writer.  I think David X. Cohen reliably uses "axe" (and Xmas), but I may be wrong.

Yes, it is a joke, because already many people pronounce it "axe".  Hence (cool word, eh?) it presumably evolved into the standard pronunciation, "ask" being archaic.

You think that's implausible?  Try reading Beowulf or The Canterbury Tales (both about 1000 years old now) and struggle with the pronunciation.  I'm just glad I was a physics student, not an English major.

Frankly, it's pretty improbable that English in 3000 bears so much resemblance to English in 2000.  (See, for example, the movie Serenity.  Set a few centuries hence -- hee hee, I like that word -- it mixes English and Chinese.)  But hey, like faster-than-light travel (or changing the speed of light), the conceit that English hasn't changed, and is fairly universal, is both common and necessary if we're going to understand the folks in the series. 

[Reply #31 on:]

Either way it's spelled, Ax or Axe it's still a word. 

[Reply #32 on:]

 

Originally posted by mookie427:
in the Futurama comics, isnt it spelled 'axe'?

If so, that's proof enough for me. Check!

[Reply #33 on:]

 

English in 3000 bears

Sounds like a good film.

But yeah, it's just a joke, so the spelling is gonna be pretty inconsistent. It's just because everyone has to speak in a language we can understand on the show, so instead of changing it all they made fun of it by only changing two words: Christmas/Xmas and ask/aks. In reality, English in a thousand years would be changed beyond recognition for someone from the 20th century, but then the whole idea of Futurama wouldn't work.

[Reply #34 on:]

 

Originally posted by Arkan:
quote:________________________________
Originally posted by TomAllen:
English in 3000 bears..._____________________

Sounds like a good film...

<*Slaps forehead*>