Via Strange Maps
What are your thoughts on the geography of language as seen in this map?
This entry was posted on Thursday, September 4th, 2008 at 7:48 am and is filed under Lifestyle, Play. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:06 am
As a Chicagoan, it’s interesting to see that the “pop vs. soda” geographic divide is inverse in my region compared to much of the rest of the country. “Pop” is used the majority of the time in the Chicago area and if someone says “soda”, it’s often a sign that person is from rural Downstate Illinois or Wisconsin (which have very few members of the Creative Class compared to Chicago). This seems to be the opposite for New York, where NYC prefers “soda” and Upstate New York prefers “pop”. I’m not sure how much we can extrapolate from the uses of the particular terms themselves with respect to members of the Creative Class – the Creative Class-heavy Northeast appears to be heavily in favor of “soda”, but the Pacific Northwest, which is also very popular with the Creative Class in general, seems to prefer “pop”. However, I do notice that metro areas popular with the Creative Class are less likely to be in the 80%-100% range for a particular term (with the New York City area being an exception), which would make sense since these types of areas are more likely to draw in transplants from across the country (who then bring their respective, “pop”, “soda”, or “coke” biases with them).
September 4th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I don’t see it at all, actually. Soda is a common term on the coasts, but there are too many notable exceptions for me to think that there’s a rule to speak of. Supposed bastions of the CC, like Seattle, Portland, Austin, Denver, Atlanta, and Minneapolis are all non-soda.
For the record, I’m a soda person. Must be the Milwaukee influence. “Pop” makes me cringe.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:19 am
Agreed. Trying to “push” the point so to speak. Reflecting more I wonder to what degree the geography of language is overlaid by class or education? Any other thoughts.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
My folks back home (in Cincinnati and Illinois) call it Pop. From my family alone, I’ve noticed that the family members who’ve been to college (or have completed HS and read more often) call it soda. It’s totally un-scientific, I know, but thought it was worth mentioning.
I’m a college graduate raised all over, but mostly in the Midwest and in Northern Virginia. I went to school in well-to-do areas and ended up attending George Mason University….I call it SODA! Much to the dismay of my family back home. When I lived in Seattle (in 07-08), I heard “Pop” often.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Fascinating discussion
September 7th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Born in Detroit and now living in Chicago, I use “soda,” adopted when I lived in D.C. East coast folks were confused (or feigned confusion) when I used “pop,” but Midwesterners clearly understand when I say “soda.” Does that mean we might have the more educated (not necessarily schooled) folks in the Midwest?
September 8th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Maybe they’re more open to what people calling it soda. They could also have family members in other places (hence the staggering number of young Ohioans – including myself – who left the state) who they speak to on a regular basis, and are familiar with what it’s called elsewhere?
September 8th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Matt – My hunch was that this is a geographic thing, it is also a class thing. I’ve never heard a college educated, creative classer call use “pop.” Now what do you think Sarah Palin calls it … (only kidding) …
September 8th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I think Sarah Palin calls it pop. Just a hunch…she’s just like “us.” Dr. Florida, I think you’re right, it probably is a creative class thing. The “creative” people that I met in Seattle called it “Soda,” while the more blue-collar-types called it “Pop.”
For the record, your “Rise of the Creative Class” inspired me to take on a Cultural Studies program at Mason. I’m hoping to get in Fall ‘09. When I get the spare cash, I’m going to get “Who’s Your City,” as I don’t want to buy them 2nd hand from Half.com because it jacks your royalty.
September 10th, 2008 at 8:10 am
In the UK no-one says soda. However there is a class distinction between those who say “pop” (more working class) and then those who don’t, and would use a brand name or “fizzy drink”.