verbs - The grammaticality of "that don't impress me much"


I'd like to know how the sentence "That don't impress me much" sounds to a native English speaker.


The phrase is the title of a song by Shania Twain, and to my eyes it contains a clear error. It is obviously intended, and I want to know what was the effect that the author wanted to obtain.


Other examples that come to mind:



  • “She's got a ticket to ride, but she don't care” — The Beatles

  • “My love don't cost a thing” — Jennifer Lopez

  • “It don't matter” — Akon

  • “She don't care about me” — heard in the Lost series

  • “It Don't Mean a Thing” — a jazz album title

  • “The Sun Don't Lie” — another album title



Answer



The intentional misuse of don't is a form of code switching (or code mixing). The form is extremely characteristic of working-class southeastern Americans ("southerners"), who are also the primary audience for American country music.


What is most interesting about the song is that Shania Twain is Canadian — and that is where the code switching begins. It is a deliberate error made in attempt to establish authenticity and to better connect with her music's intended audience.


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