Why do Texans refer to all soda as "Coke"? (Houston: refrigerator, college)

[CallMeLaura]

As evidenced by the 'couldn't find Dr Pepper' comment, not all brands of carbonated drinks were always available. You mention that the map is 5 years old. So what? I know people who still say "icebox".

Coke and Pepsi weren't always considered interchangeable. If I recall correctly, Coke is preferred by the Boomers, i.e. the ones who still use icebox.

Language takes a very long time to evolve, so you can't look at current conditions and declare everyone morons for not talking the way you do. I'd be willing to bet you personally indulge in traditions that have absolutely no basis in any modern fact.

Your car comparison is also flawed. Some household products have been generalized with a trademarked name, but not every single one. You can't say it's not valid because every other item on the planet hasn't been categorized the same way. Or should I just start calling you Bob?

And TexReb, did we actually agree on something? Again?

[catman]

I don't understand what everyone is getting so hot under the colar about. I notice that on the map, in Tarrant, Denton and Dallas Counties, >80% call a soft drink generically a "coke". I can vouch for that. I didn't expect it to be that way everywhere else. What's the big deal?

[Sonrise]

Originally Posted by CallMeLaura

As evidenced by the 'couldn't find Dr Pepper' comment, not all brands of carbonated drinks were always available. You mention that the map is 5 years old. So what? I know people who still say "icebox".

Coke and Pepsi weren't always considered interchangeable. If I recall correctly, Coke is preferred by the Boomers, i.e. the ones who still use icebox.

Language takes a very long time to evolve, so you can't look at current conditions and declare everyone morons for not talking the way you do. I'd be willing to bet you personally indulge in traditions that have absolutely no basis in any modern fact.

Your car comparison is also flawed. Some household products have been generalized with a trademarked name, but not every single one. You can't say it's not valid because every other item on the planet hasn't been categorized the same way. Or should I just start calling you Bob?

And TexReb, did we actually agree on something? Again?

I only brought up BMW because someone, I forget who, mentioned that Coke had a huge influence on the "south" thus every soft drink became "coke" similarily BMW's headquartered here in Greenville, therefore having an influence on the community. So using the flawed logic that all sodas should be called coke, all cars here in SC should be called BMW's.

All, I was originally stating was that coke is a cola flavored carbonated beverage. How in anyway, shape or form could a sunkist, dr. pepper or sprite therefore be referred to as a "coke"? Anyway, no one agrees with me here. I can handle it. No biggie.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by Guerilla

No, it is just called "Purple Drink". I've never heard it called Coke.

She was referring to what "drank" meant here, not Coke.

[lonestar2007]

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!

LOL this is s funny. My old boss who was raised in Bosque County tells the story of the time his sister-in-law who was from WI asked if anyone wanted something to drink. He said,yeah, I'll take a sodie water. She went into the kitchen, filled a glass with water and added some baking soda to it!

I come from a long line of Texans. I grew up calling it coke, we never said soda water, soda, pop, or anything like that, just always said coke. When we little little, I remember my Daddy asking if we wanted to stop and get a coke. Of course, it was yes! When we got to the store or filling station, it was, ok, what do you want? Then came the requests for either Coke, Dr. Pepper, etc. That's just the way it is in Texas.

ps. If you think everything is Texas is supposed to be factually correct, you're in for a lot more surprises and I mean a lot more. We Texans excelled in putting our own 'brand' on things. We love our little offbeat sayings and expressions. We seem to delight in speaking our own language at times that only we can decipher for sure. It's just a Texan 'thang'.

So, how bout a coke, y'all, cause I think this thread is gonna be as big (or bigger?) than Case's food threads. So, grab a coke and keep your whistle wet for all the responses I'm sure are coming.

[SanAntoQT]

Originally Posted by lonestar2007

So, grab a coke and keep your whistle wet for all the responses I'm sure are coming.

I've got my coke...it's a Pepsi!

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by JamesAbilene

Sonrise, I know that it is Coca Cola. The reason I put quotes around the word is because that is the way we pronounced it in my family. In fact, we really pronounced it "Cokola."

I've called it cokecola plenty of times. That's ALL my daddy ever called it as with the other adults. Us kids just shortened to coke, but we would still say cokecola or cokeacola a lot of times. It tastes the same no matter what you call it. I did enjoy seeing you call it cokecola though, brings back good memories.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by CallMeLaura

As evidenced by the 'couldn't find Dr Pepper' comment, not all brands of carbonated drinks were always available. You mention that the map is 5 years old. So what? I know people who still say "icebox".

Coke and Pepsi weren't always considered interchangeable. If I recall correctly, Coke is preferred by the Boomers, i.e. the ones who still use icebox.

Language takes a very long time to evolve, so you can't look at current conditions and declare everyone morons for not talking the way you do. I'd be willing to bet you personally indulge in traditions that have absolutely no basis in any modern fact.

Your car comparison is also flawed. Some household products have been generalized with a trademarked name, but not every single one. You can't say it's not valid because every other item on the planet hasn't been categorized the same way. Or should I just start calling you Bob?

And TexReb, did we actually agree on something? Again?

Yeah, scary isn't it? And I even gave you a rep point to boot!

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by lonestar2007

If you think everything is Texas is supposed to be factually correct, you're in for a lot more surprises and I mean a lot more. We Texans excelled in putting our own 'brand' on things. We love our little offbeat sayings and expressions. We seem to delight in speaking our own language at times that only we can decipher for sure. It's just a Texan 'thang'.

So, how bout a coke, y'all, cause I think this thread is gonna be as big (or bigger?) than Case's food threads. So, grab a coke and keep your whistle wet for all the responses I'm sure are coming.

Right on the mark, LoneStar. In fact, there is even a thread related to your point:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/texas...translate.html

P.S. Hope no yankees have an apoplexy over it!

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by CallMeLaura

I know people who still say "icebox".

Coke and Pepsi weren't always considered interchangeable. If I recall correctly, Coke is preferred by the Boomers, i.e. the ones who still use icebox.

Language takes a very long time to evolve, so you can't look at current conditions and declare everyone morons for not talking the way you do. I'd be willing to bet you personally indulge in traditions that have absolutely no basis in any modern fact.

Right on Laura, if this were the case, we'd all be in a world of doodo


LOL, I still catch myself saying icebox at given times. There are other items that have carry over names that I sometimes use also.

Then of course there are some things that we refer to that have always been called and are still called by a certain name that some people don't seem to know what we're talking about. For example, when someone says they're going to go down to the tank and fish, it doesn't mean some galvanzied metal tank, it is the stock tank. Uh oh, maybe I should clarify that further. It is a dug out hole in the ground designed to hold water for livestock (cows, horses) and other animals (such as dogs, coyotes, deer, pigs, etc.) to drink from. Get it stocked right and it makes a fine fishing hole too. In some areas of the country they are called ponds. Just another regional thing.