![theatlantic:
The Invisible Borders That Define American Culture
One of the clearest regional differences in the U.S. can found by tracking the words people use to refer to soft drinks, which is in fact the map you saw at the top of this story. Pop or soda, or even Coke, these small linguistic differences are not as small as we might think. While “soda” commands the Northeast and West Coast (green) and “pop” is in between (black), “Coke” reigns in the south (turquoise). These small distinctions can often act as touchstones for larger cultural differences.
Read more. [Image: Samuel Arbesman]
I don’t know why I find this as interesting as I do. I do know that it’s something I noticed when we moved from WV to Hawaii - the name change. I’m not certain, as it was a long time ago, but I do think in WV we called it pop. And here in Hawaii? Soda. Weird, but true.
Or I call it “fizzies.” But that’s an in joke between me and my sister. ;)](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m33cl9VdDM1qcokc4o1_500.jpg)
I don’t know why I find this as interesting as I do. I do know that it’s something I noticed when we moved from WV to Hawaii - the name change. I’m not certain, as it was a long time ago, but I do think in WV we called it pop. And here in Hawaii? Soda. Weird, but true. Or I call it “fizzies.” But that’s an in joke between me and my sister. ;)The Invisible Borders That Define American Culture
One of the clearest regional differences in the U.S. can found by tracking the words people use to refer to soft drinks, which is in fact the map you saw at the top of this story. Pop or soda, or even Coke, these small linguistic differences are not as small as we might think. While “soda” commands the Northeast and West Coast (green) and “pop” is in between (black), “Coke” reigns in the south (turquoise). These small distinctions can often act as touchstones for larger cultural differences.
Read more. [Image: Samuel Arbesman]
