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.

[Stosh]

Interesting how Milwaukee and St. Louis are islands of “soda” in an ocean of Midwest “pop” - I expect it’s the German influence, but I have no idea how (perhaps it’s related to the ubiquity of breweries).

And on a separate matter, “youse guys” should be in there with “you” and “y’all”.

[southernnorthcarolina]

In most of the US, if several people wish to buy a ticket at a ticket window, they wait in line. But in New York, they seem to wait ON line. Is this usage found elsewhere in the US? Of course, in England, they form a queue.

I have also noticed in New York that if I order black coffee to go (from a deli, not a fancy coffee shop), it may have sugar in it. I have to order it “black, no sugar” to get it unadulterated.

[NYer]

The organizer said they estimated that this was one of the last years where they could get good regional accents and terms because of the on going influence of television.

In retrospect, they probably forgot to factor in the influence of aviation. As our forefathers migrated by wagon train, beginning about the mid 60's, families began to relocate to other parts of the US, bringing with them their local accents.

Looking at the study on this thread, one can imagine that within another 25 years, the next one will reflect the differences in pronunciation of Spanish ;-)

[acad1228]

Okay, so long as we’re talking about pronunciations;

It makes my eyes bleed when I hear people pronounce the word “jewelry” as (ju’-ler-e) and “realtor” as (rel’-la-tor).

It’s (jul’-re) and (rel’-ter).

Just read the words. It’s pretty simple.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

You mean it’s not “re’-ul-ter”?

[ROCKLOBSTER]

I have to order it “black, no sugar” to get it unadulterated.

In Maine, if you order your coffee "regular" they'll destroy it with cream and sugar.

[don-o]

grocery/shopping bag is a sack

Traditional Appalachian usage calls that bag a poke. And the carbonated drink is a dope. My grandparents used both. My parents consciously did not.

[don-o]

http://aschmann.net/AmEng/#LargeMap

One can spend hours clicking around on this

[bjorn14]

My favorite Milwakeean term is “bubbler” (drinking fountain). My brother and I would confuse gas station clerks all over the country.

[heylady]

My daughter lives in Australia and they call a carriage or shopping cart a trolley. She loves it there because the place where you get a drink of water is a BUBBLER. My Father and my Aunt would say or re’ gan o for oregano, and batree for battery. Their Mother was born in England. My daughter says that is exactly the pronunciations that they use in Australia and I always thought they were just trying to be funny.

[DManA]

How about calling a guy who takes pictures a fur-tographer.

No one ever calls his product a fur-tograph.

[DManA]

I remember the first time I heard Gomer say “Hey Andy!”, it sounded so strange to me.

[Oratam]

nightstand or bedside table?

[DManA]

Doesn’t anyone call a big road you drive relatively fast on “the four lane”?

[metesky]

When I was growing up in Suffolk and Essex counties in eastern Massachusetts the word was “tonic”, but I think I’m about the only person left that uses it.

[Cboldt]

I was going to remark on that one too, name of the thing that hangs on the wall that you get drinking water from.

Watermelon is "wootermelon" in some places.

If you toss in Canada, have fun with decal (deckel - generic term for warning labels) and process (long O, pro-cess).

[al_c]

I say soda and drive on highways, y’all.

[metesky]

“Sangwich” in MA’s Merrimack Valley.

[GreyFriar]

As I remember it, in the 1960s aviation was growing but still folks were traveling by train quite a bit. It was still the time of getting dressed up to fly on an air liner, compared to today of wearing anything you want.

[DManA]

I notice people, trying to be light and jokey, sometimes call them sam-itches. But I’ve never met anyone who thinks that’s how you are supposed to pronounce it.

I would say 95% of the time Americans say sam-witch.