Here's a little story about the first time I tried to order a Coke after my family moved from Connecticut to Tennessee so many years ago.
We were at a restaurant ordering drinks when the waitress turned to me.
"Whah about ewe, hon? Whah can ah git ya?" she said in her twangy drawl.
"I'll have a Coke," I said.
"Okay, wha kahnd?"
"Kind? Um, regular. Not diet..?" I guessed. What kind of question was that?
"Yeeyah, but ah mean, Coke, Sprite, Dahhcter Pepper?" she said.
I stared at her.
She stared back.
"Coke," I repeated.
"All raaght. Be raaght back!" She twirled around and left.
As I sat there wondering if she was mentally challenged, I had no idea that I was entering a world where every single person used "coke" to describe all carbonated beverages. In fact, up to that point, I hadn't realized that anyone anywhere called soda anything except "soda." Of course, I was way wrong, as this map reminded me the other day:
For the record, I absolutely hate the word "pop." It's always sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard to me and I hate you for saying it. It's WRONG. Seriously. Don't.
I bring this up because this pretty map has me a little stumped. It says that there are areas that don't call it soda, pop OR coke... What else is there? Good God, is there something worse than "pop"?? SAY IT AIN'T SO.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
It's soda
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
18 comments:
I thought Coke just refers to Coca Cola. Not "soda." What's wrong with people?
Ewwww I HATE it when people say "pop"! Like what year are you from? Who says that?
The worst is when you have someone with a Boston accent say "pop" too.
what's the "other" category? What else are people calling it?
I cannot stand the word POP. I just can't even bring myself to say it. I'm a soda or coke girl. I don't bend on that.
It's COKE. It's ALL coke.
We in the South prefer to use brand names rather than generics. And before you judge us, I ask you:
Do you call it a Q-tip or Cotton Swab?
Being a Clevelander, we always say 'pop'.
My niece Lily, when she wants the sweet drink, she asks for 'pop pop'.
Now I just ask for vodka on the rocks.
indeed, pop it is. sorry - i'm from ohio...
(http://angilio.blogspot.com/2008/06/clearly-im-from-ohio.html)
SODA. agreed.
LOVE the map. E is a Chicagoan and blames that for the fact that he always refers to soda as "pop," and it drove me bonkers for awhile. Now I tell him we're stopping at the gas station so I can get a soda and he can get a pop, and that's as much as I'll compromise.
I do know a guy who calls it "sodie" though.
I grew up in Pittsburgh with friends saying "pop" everywhere I went but with parents who grew up in NYC and threatened to make me move if I called it anything but soda.
It's soda people--and don't tell me that when you open your can, it says "pop!" and that's why you call it that.
OK, I'm not sure who says any of this. I use the name of what I want. Coke = Coke, 7-Up = 7-Up. If pressed I guess I'd use pop.
I am getting a kick of out of the Alaska part of the map. They can't decide what they want to call it.
I'm a Kansas gift at heart so "pop" it is; HOWEVER, you'll be proud, I've lived in Colorado now for 4 1/2 years and I'm more apt to use "soda" instead just from hearing it so much. "Pop" does work it's way in here and there :)
I say pop.
You-re right - it's soda. I bet the other is for really screwed up people who say "soda pop."
I'm from Canada and I say pop. I can always tell if someone is from the states when they order a soda. I like the way soda sounds though....
I'm from Canada and I say pop. I can always tell if someone is from the states when they order a soda. I like the way soda sounds though....
I have to chime in with another vote for pop (being from Michigan). Now that I'm in Chicago, I constantly have to remind myself to say soda to avoid ridicule :)
hahahaha i say coke ALL the time in conjunction with all sodas. Im from the south as well and its always been natural. so glad to find out its not just me.
Post a Comment