Soda or Pop (or None of the Above)?
‘Soda jerker flipping ice cream into malted milk shakes. Corpus Christi, Texas (LOC)’
courtesy of ‘The Library of Congress’
Is it the most scientific research? Nah. Nor is it the most recent. Doesn’t mean we can’t get a lighthearted conversation going with the Primary behind us, and it’s still a very cool example of crowdsourcing that’s bubbling up now across a few different blogs nationwide.
Using some contextual clues based on Web-language around the United States and a less than exact survey, researchers plotted the nomenclature that different areas of the country use to describe soft drinks. The result is one pretty excellent and awesome map that breaks down who calls bubbly drinks “Soda,” “Pop,” “Coke” or something else.
Looking closely at the map, you’ll note that DC is one of the most diverse regions (likely due to the conglomeration of Yankees like me who know Soda is correct and Midwesterners who confuse a beverage with their father):
So, loyal We Love DC readers – what is it? If anyone says Tonic, I’ll be decently upset.
H/t Chicagoist via The Big Lead
Comments
11 Responses to “Soda or Pop (or None of the Above)?”
September 15th, 2010 at 9:43 am
It’s all Coke to me (and my home county in Southwestern Indiana).
September 15th, 2010 at 10:10 am
It’s soda or coke, but definitly not pop. I guess that’s on account of my MA/MS upbringing.
September 15th, 2010 at 10:26 am
I grew up in Upstate New York, so it will always be “pop” to me!
September 15th, 2010 at 10:31 am
When I go to a restaurant at home and order coke, I get asked what kind. It is perfectly acceptable to then say Sprite :-) If its carbonated it is Coke!
September 15th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Pop for sure. Soda comes in an orange box and you bake with it sometimes.
September 15th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Who actually calls their father pop, seriously? I use a couple teaspoons of soda every time I make cake.
September 15th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Soda or Coke or gingerale. My taste does not include a big menu! Also, where did the saying “a coffee” come from. I alway said and say “let’s get Some coffee”. Anyone agree?
September 15th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
I’m a southern girl and it’s ALL coke. Even when I mean sprite. Or pepsi.
September 15th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
It’s carbonated beverage, to avoid both sides of the holy war.
September 16th, 2010 at 7:20 am
It is Soda. I lived in Wisconsin for four years and could never bring myself to say “Pop” when ordering at restaurants.
September 16th, 2010 at 7:27 am
I am from NYC and it’s soda. Coke is a type of soda and pop makes you sound like a hick (no offense to the pop group) :)