Speaking of maps, here's a favorite of mine.
I grew up in Rochester, NY, where we call it pop. Now I've been in Massachusetts so long I've crossed over and call it soda.
Take a look at this fascinating map (click to see it up close).
Look at all the soda transplants in the Midwestern university towns. And what's with the south calling it Coke?
What do you call it? Take the poll on the side bar.
The site where I originally got this map is not active anymore, but here's a link to a blogger that wrote about some interesting soda/pop research.
The reason that Southerners call soft drinks "Coke" is that Coca-Cola originated there and the company is based in Atlanta. Back in those bad old days(around the turn of the 20th century) before convenience stores and national brands, such products were distributed in a relatively local fashion. It is likely that Coke was the major "soda-type" beverage encountered by many in the South for a long time. I'm from the South, and we always wanted to "get a coke" even if you then decided to have a Nehi or a Dr. Pepper.
Posted by: amy | February 23, 2008 at 02:08 PM
I'm sorry Maura, but in Boston it is TONIC
Larry
Posted by: Larry Little | June 07, 2008 at 09:16 PM