Pronouncing ない as ねい / ねえ (also ~oi to ~ei) I noticed that in anime and other Japanese shows, people often pronounce as . For example, instead of saying , the person will say , but the translation is the same. I have many questions about this. * Is there any nuanced difference in meaning between and ? * Is it a colloquialism? Is it from a specific region or used mostly by one gender? * When written, is it spelled or ? And do people often use it in writing, or only in speech? * I've also noticed that sometimes gets pronounced . Is this the same phenomenon? Are there other non- examples? * Does this transformation have a name? I'd like to read more about it but I don't know what to search.

1. I see it most often spelled out as as in etc.
2. For me it has a rough, slightly negative, rude connotation (e.g. used by ruffians and ), or the older generation that speak their opinions freely). It is also more prevalent in males than females.
3. I've seen but not .
4. Can be used in the positive to show emphasis (also used by above) e.g. etc etc.
5. If there is a name, I don't know it..