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yeah I've never heard it. People will call soft drinks "cokes" but nobody says in a restaurant "I want a coke" unless they want a coca-cola.
No, not when you're at a restaurant. No one would ask, "What kind of 'coke' do you have?"
The coke generalization would be used more like when you're putting soft drinks in a cooler. Friend walks up and you say to him, "Cokes are in the cooler." (There could be all sorts of soft drinks along with coca-colas or no coca-colas at all in the cooler.)
Another common scenario in Oklahoma/Texas is going to Sonic multiple times a day in the 100 degree heat. "Let's go to Sonic and get a coke!" The person that said that might actually order a Dr. Pepper or a Sprite. He/she is using "coke" in the general/generic sense as in the usage of soft drink.
(It would be very odd for someone native to the South-Central region to say, "Let's go to Sonic and get a soda!")
No, not when you're at a restaurant. No one would ask, "What kind of 'coke' do you have?"
The coke generalization would be used more like when you're putting soft drinks in a cooler. Friend walks up and you say to him, "Cokes are in the cooler." (There could be all sorts of soft drinks along with coca-colas or no coca-colas at all in the cooler.)
Another common scenario in Oklahoma/Texas is going to Sonic multiple times a day in the 100 degree heat. "Let's go to Sonic and get a coke!" The person that said that might actually order a Dr. Pepper or a Sprite. He/she is using "coke" in the general/generic sense as in the usage of soft drink.
(It would be very odd for someone native to the South-Central region to say, "Let's go to Sonic and get a soda!")
No, not when you're at a restaurant. No one would ask, "What kind of 'coke' do you have?"
The coke generalization would be used more like when you're putting soft drinks in a cooler. Friend walks up and you say to him, "Cokes are in the cooler." (There could be all sorts of soft drinks along with coca-colas or no coca-colas at all in the cooler.)
Another common scenario in Oklahoma/Texas is going to Sonic multiple times a day in the 100 degree heat. "Let's go to Sonic and get a coke!" The person that said that might actually order a Dr. Pepper or a Sprite. He/she is using "coke" in the general/generic sense as in the usage of soft drink.
(It would be very odd for someone native to the South-Central region to say, "Let's go to Sonic and get a soda!")
I agree, this is how I would use it, but some people seem to be thinking that you can go into a restaurant and ask for a coke and then the waitress will ask you "what kind of coke?" That almost never happens.
But yeah, I'd say "coke" is the most used term here, followed closely by "soda" But when I think about it, I actually hear more people say "let's get something to drink" rather than "let's get a coke"
We have talked about this one before, Spade. And both agreed that there is probably a black/white dichotomy in the South as far as usage goes. Black Texans/Southerners tend to say "soda", while most native whites of the same use "coke" as the generic term for soft-drink.
Like any survey/study, there are going to be flaws in it...and perhaps there were not enough African-Americans polled to give an accurate reading. BUT at the same time, the "color-scheme" (no pun intended) on the map is just too starkly and clearly contrasting between regions to be taken lightly. Also, there was another study done -- by Harvard University -- which "verified" the same findings within the same states, along with a breakdown state by state: Here they area: (see question 105):
So, again, while I see y'alls point (you and blkgiraffe), these results are so clearly evident between the various parts of the country -- and with two seperate polls -- that they cannot be dismissed, I don't think...
Well I grew up in a predominately white neighborhood in Texas and use to work in the food service and never heard it. However, I do believe people say it here, but I don't think it's as dominant as the map suggests.
We have talked about this one before, Spade. And both agreed that there is probably a black/white dichotomy in the South as far as usage goes. Black Texans/Southerners tend to say "soda", while most native whites of the same use "coke" as the generic term for soft-drink.
Like any survey/study, there are going to be flaws in it...and perhaps there were not enough African-Americans polled to give an accurate reading. BUT at the same time, the "color-scheme" (no pun intended) on the map is just too starkly and clearly contrasting between regions to be taken lightly. Also, there was another study done -- by Harvard University -- which "verified" the same findings within the same states, along with a breakdown state by state: Here they area: (see question 105):
So, again, while I see y'alls point (you and blkgiraffe), these results are so clearly evident between the various parts of the country -- and with two seperate polls -- that they cannot be dismissed, I don't think...
Amazingly, I don't remember that conversation lol. Not saying you are wrong but that must have been a while ago.
No, not when you're at a restaurant. No one would ask, "What kind of 'coke' do you have?"
The coke generalization would be used more like when you're putting soft drinks in a cooler. Friend walks up and you say to him, "Cokes are in the cooler." (There could be all sorts of soft drinks along with coca-colas or no coca-colas at all in the cooler.)
Another common scenario in Oklahoma/Texas is going to Sonic multiple times a day in the 100 degree heat. "Let's go to Sonic and get a coke!" The person that said that might actually order a Dr. Pepper or a Sprite. He/she is using "coke" in the general/generic sense as in the usage of soft drink.
(It would be very odd for someone native to the South-Central region to say, "Let's go to Sonic and get a soda!")
^^^
This.
When talking about "soft drinks" in general, I (and most people I know) refer to them as "cokes"...but we refer to them individually by name.
Yes, just as there are people in other parts of the country who refer to all "cokes" as "soda"! (just being a light-hearted, patronizing, in my own turn, here!). But seriously, yes. "Coke" is a common term in the Southern United States to generically refer to soft-drinks! I don't think it is quite as common as it used to be, but the map pegs it pretty well, overall, I think.
Really wasn't being patronizing--I honestly never heard of such a thing. "Coke" is often used as a general term for all colas, just as people say "Kleenex" for tissues or "Band-aids" for little bandages that you peel and stick to yourself. But coke, or actually cola, is a specific flavor, a subset of soda. It would be sort of like referring to all liquor as rum!
I'm not going to lose any sleep over this, mind you. I have enough problems here in the NY metro area trying to reeducate Italians who refer to tomato sauce as "gravy".
While here in New England, we'll say "soda" as opposed to "pop", but usually we'll just ask for the drink BY NAME, i.e. "I'll have a root beer, ginger ale, sprite, etc", and yes, a "coke" (meaning Coca-Cola or Pepsi)....
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(just being a light-hearted, patronizing, in my own turn, here!). But seriously, yes. "Coke" is a common term in the Southern United States to generically refer to soft-drinks! I don't think it is quite as common as it used to be, but the map pegs it pretty well, overall, I think. 
