Why do Texans refer to all soda as "Coke"? (Miami: living in, rated)

[NOEM1226]

I relate- most people around me (NWA Arkansas) refer to soda of any sort as a "coke". Recently my son started saying this (and stopped quickly) because when taking drink orders at a resturaunt the waitstaff would ask what he wanted he would say "a coke" and then start to specify which kind- but they had already moved on to the next person's order. As we get more transplants in this area- I wonder if the "coke" thing will be passed down. I also crack up over "hand me an orange"- which means I'd like a sunkist or whatever orange sodas. Why does that apply to only orange and grape. Why aren't calling everything it's color- not it's name. I need some white for my cereal.lol

[case44]

Originally Posted by JVTX72

Why do TEXANS refer to all soda as coke? Probably the same reason YANKEES call it soda or pop. Regional slang! And most Texans I know refer to a carbonated drink as a "soda water". Besides most Texans, I believe, Prefer DrPepper, not Coke!

Well, you could Texify a Yankeeism by referring to carbonated drinks as sodie-pop. Sounds like something from Yosemite Sam. But when I order something over the counter, I have to be specific, too. There's just no getting around it.

[Mom2Feebs]

I've never been to a restaurant where you didn't order what you wanted by name (i.e. Sprite, Dr. Pepper, etc). At home or with friends, it's different. That's where you'll hear "Wanna coke?" and the response, "Yeah, whatcha got?" followed by "Uh....Coke, Dr. Pepper, and Root Beer."

[Bo]

Originally Posted by Sonrise

Not true, I live in SC and if anyone referred to all soda as coke they'd look at you like you have 3 heads.

And the map I posted, which is backed by research and not just someone's opinion, doesn't disagree with you. There are pockets of SC that use the term soda, but the majority of the state is "coke" country.

[case44]

Originally Posted by Bowie

And the map I posted, which is backed by research and not just someone's opinion, doesn't disagree with you. There are pockets of SC that use the term soda, but the majority of the state is "coke" country.

Yeah, but you have to wonder what those Pepsi people must be thinking now....

[Debsi]

Originally Posted by jfre81

"All I wanted was a Coke, just one Coke, and she wouldn't give it to me..."

Somehow it doesn't have the same ring to it!

[Sonrise]

Originally Posted by CallMeLaura

The ice cream analogy is flawed. Using Coke is no different than Kleenex, Band-Aids, Kool-aid, or Xerox, which are all trademarked names that are commonly used for the non-trademarked brands of the same basic item.

Totally wrong; Kleenex, though a brand name is tissue like any other tissue, band aids, though a name brand is like any other bandage, xerox same thing. Add Jello to your analogy, although actually flavored gelatin, no different than any other lesser known brand.

You're right, my ice cream analogy was a bad one but my BMW one is right on the mark. While all cars share some similarity it would be absurd to refer to a Trailblazer as a BMW just as it's totally absurd to refer to all soda as coke. Here's why your analogy is wrong however, all of the items listed are nearly identical to their lesser known competitor. They are brand names that have transcended their name and replaced the item name with the product itself. Coke has absolutely nothing in common with Sprite other than they're both carbonated flavored beverages. Coke; cola flavored, Sprite; lemon lime. To refer to Sprite as Coke is not only factually incorrect, it's stupid.

[spursfan]

I dont really get that here in SA. Maybe its all the suburbanites from different places, but i dont think ive ever been to a restaurant and asked for a coke and not got a coca-cola. I call it soda and I'm a native.

[Sonrise]

Originally Posted by JVTX72

Why do TEXANS refer to all soda as coke? Probably the same reason YANKEES call it soda or pop. Regional slang! And most Texans I know refer to a carbonated drink as a "soda water". Besides most Texans, I believe, Prefer DrPepper, not Coke!

But it's not regional slang and what's with the all caps Yankee thing anyway?. I live in SC and the Civil War's been over for over 100 years. Sheesh! Other than Texas and I guess some other small pockets of the country close by, everyone else in the nation refers to it as either soda or pop. I was just curious how this came about. When I did ask this to my Texas coworkers and explained that coke is a cola flavored beverage and sprite is lemon lime, therefore they're not in any way interchangeable they agreed right away and didn't know how it came about.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by CallMeLaura

The ice cream analogy is flawed. Using Coke is no different than Kleenex, Band-Aids, Kool-aid, or Xerox, which are all trademarked names that are commonly used for the non-trademarked brands of the same basic item.

Absolutely right, Laura! That was exactly the point I was going to make!

Bowie wrote:

And the map I posted, which is backed by research and not just someone's opinion, doesn't disagree with you. There are pockets of SC that use the term soda, but the majority of the state is "coke" country.

Absolutely right as well, Bowie. As you said originally, it is a Southern thing and likely started because of coke originating in Georgia as the first major soft drink whose popularity swept across the region, the name just became entrenched as part of the vernacular down here to mean any other brand. Same as Laura noted above with other products in other realms.

You are also correct about the map. I have seen it before and yes, while "coke" may not be quite so popular the generic term in the Carolinas as it is in Georgia north to Kentucky and west to Texas, it is still in majority use. And note too, where "coke" is not used, the preferred term is "something other", not soda or pop!