Pop, Soda or Coke? 11 Maps Show How Differently Americans Speak

IJReview ^ | July 3, 2014

[NYer]

Is it y’all or you guys? Pop or soda? Freeway or highway? How you answer can reveal which part of the United States you call home.

These 11 maps, researched by N.C. State Professor Joshua Katz, show that we are a nation divided over terminology from desserts to the weather. In honor of our national Independence Day, we thought we’d take a look:

As you can see, we are a nation of diversity, which can be both good and bad. Too often, we become too focused on our population’s political divide and the hate-filled rhetoric that comes from both sides.

However, this week as we celebrate America’s independence, let’s give thanks that we are able to have these disagreements and focus on the liberty and freedom we all share.

[poobear]

Nehi bellywasher here :)
With peanuts.

[mountn man]

On da sout side of Chicago, day call em sammiches.

As in "gimme one of dem der sammiches"

[mountn man]

In Chicago we’ll say “hey”, usually with a quick nod up of the head.

[sneakers]

“younz”, “yinz”, or “yunz” = “all of you” as in:

Pittsburghese: “I’m goin dahntahn ta the Ji’niggle store - yinz commin?”

Translation: I’m going downtown to the Giant Eagle (grocery) store. You all coming?

[Iron Munro]

When I was young It was common to hear people from Massachusettes refer to Coke (soda) as Tonic.

[TalBlack]

How odd... I grew up on Long Island, my parents came to LI from Brooklyn and we used all of your examples interchangeably with the exception of carriage/shoppingcart (we said shoppingcart).

[uglybiker]

...in Atlanta ‘Coke’ is the term for soda. Example: Going to the store you want a Coke?

Or you can go to S.Carolina where everything is a co-cola. ;-)

[Iron Munro]

On da sout side of Chicago, day call em sammiches.

In NY City you will often hear it pronounced as "sangwich."

[Beagle8U]

“curious what Grinder’s origination is from.”

My guess would be the ‘Cuban Sandwich’ was the original grinder.

Just guessing, but the bread used for them is pretty tough to bite through.

They are damn good though!

[bert]

I am beyond all this happy horse crap.

America needs to purge all north and east of the state of New York. The Neoeuropa ‘ns are no longer Americans.

[ArcadeQuarters]

Is this a possible conversation in the South?

“I’ll have a coke.”
“What kind?”
“Mountain Dew”

[Balding_Eagle]

There is another divide, English typists, and then all others.

Here is an example of sentences posted on FreeRepublic;

Can any of you sight for me some facts, because I don’t no them? I was effected buy my lack of information, I just don’t know what to do, or hole future is at stake.

[Rodamala]

I assure you.. the map is correct... almost all of PA and some of NJ says Hoagie, not Grinder.

[libertarian27]

Interesting series from the History Channel
“America’s Secret Slang”
(most episodes on youtube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2VsAxDfba4

[wally_bert]

Or you can go to S.Carolina where everything is a co-cola. ;-) I am from SC and that has always grated on my nerves. I usually call a soft drink a soda.

[COBOL2Java]

Error 1011 for all of them

I clicked on the little box and "voila"! They all then appeared!

There's only one explanation for this, of course...

[Iron Munro]

Is this a possible conversation in the South?
“I’ll have a coke.”
“What kind?”
“Mountain Dew”

Yes. Or in some places something like this:

"Hey - gib me one dem dere RC co-cola."

"Wha?"

"Dat arnge one..."

[kearnyirish2]

“I say pocketbook, not purse”

Isn’t a purse carried inside a pocketbook?

How did they react to the word “toothbrush” in Texas?

JUST KIDDING!

[Brother Cracker]

[COBOL2Java]

How odd... I grew up on Long Island, my parents came to LI from Brooklyn and we used all of your examples interchangeably with the exception of carriage/shoppingcart (we said shoppingcart).

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, my mother was from Staten Island, my father from Montpelier Vermont, so you can imagine my pronunciation of things is somewhat of a mixed bag. I remember my mother would pronounce bottle without the "t" (I don't even know how to type that). She carried a pocketbook, not a purse.

We would say "chest of drawers" for a tall dresser; a "dresser" would be a low-lying one that had a mirror on it. My father moved to NY when he was about 10, so he lost a bit of his Yankee accent. He would say "ahnt" for aunt, whereas my mother would say "ant".

Living in an apartment, we would go down into the cellar, not the basement. And you would put your groceries in a shopping cart. Speaking of Long Island, I remember it being pronounced as "Lawn Giland"