Coke, Soda, or Pop: Most of NC, says Soda (Charlotte: transplants, chapel)
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That map is completely wrong. Nobody in NC uses any of those words--here it's referred to simply as "a drink", or "a drank", depending on whether you're from the city or the country.
Y'know, growing up in SE NC in the 70s we just always called it "a drink" or by the actual name of what was being offered, "Co-Cola, Sprite, Mt Dew". I NEVER heard anyone refer to it as a "soda" or a "pop" or "soda pop". I knew those terms from reading books, but nobody ever used them in conversation. Probably some people did offer me a "coke" when they meant a variety of soft drinks, but I, personally, don't remember referring to the whole group of soft drinks that way.
That map is completely wrong. Nobody in NC uses any of those words--here it's referred to simply as "a drink", or "a drank", depending on whether you're from the city or the country.
Where do you live? The places in NC (Charlotte area, Raleigh and Chapel Hill, and Winston-Salem) that I have lived, refer to it as "soda" when they mean a carbonated beverage. A drink is not specific enough. However, recently, I have noticed more and more people saying "pop" in NC and VA.
I grew up in Fayetteville and have lived in Chapel Hill since 1982. My family and the spouse's family have been in NC since forever. In-laws live in Charlotte. IME, native NC-ers don't say soda or pop unless they're just trying to talk "transplant". I'm sure the transplants say soda and pop and I certainly know what they mean. I think my kids say "soda" some, but usually they ask for what they want by the name.
My SW Virginia aunt used to always ask me if I wanted a Pepsi, but she meant Pepsi. I preferred Coke like my uncle. My SE NC great aunt used to give me Mt Dew. That's kinda ironic since the SW Va one was in the mountains and the SE NC one was much closer to New Bern (birthplace of Pepsi).
Funny Tarheelhombre--I've lived in the same places you mention after growing up in a small town in southeastern NC, and my experience has been completely opposite from yours. As poppydog says, no one in NC used the words "soda" or "pop" until recently. "Soft drinks" was sometimes used, but mostly it was just "a drink". We also referred to the vending machines as "drink machines".
Perhaps it's affected in part by NC's long prohibition against comsumption-on-the-premises alcohol sales. "Get a drink" could mean only soft drinks in most areas of the state, so you didn't need to be more specific other than deciding what flavor!
Funny Tarheelhombre--I've lived in the same places you mention after growing up in a small town in southeastern NC, and my experience has been completely opposite from yours. As poppydog says, no one in NC used the words "soda" or "pop" until recently. "Soft drinks" was sometimes used, but mostly it was just "a drink". We also referred to the vending machines as "drink machines".
Perhaps it's affected in part by NC's long prohibition against comsumption-on-the-premises alcohol sales. "Get a drink" could mean only soft drinks in most areas of the state, so you didn't need to be more specific other than deciding what flavor!
Eastern NC born and bred and I agree. I've never heard a native say "soda" or "pop." That's yankee talk. I, and just about everyone I grew up with, always called it a drink. I knew a few who would say Coke or Co-Cola. I've always referred to vending machines as drink machines too.
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