AKMA’s Random Thoughts

I'm intrigued by the "soda" enclave in the Missouri-Illinois area. I wonder why. Also puts a new meaning to North/South debates.
Is soda the same as pepsi and coke the same as coca cola?

In Australia, I am certain the whole map would be red. Soda, if used, means soda water, which is just gassed up plain water (as opposed to proper mineral water from the ground) and pop is a kind of noise, as far as I know, and sometimes your grandfather.

Where do the people who say soda-pop live?

Thanks for this bit of trivia AKMA, by county no less. I am taking a copy to work tomorrow. As a Southern Calif. woman transplanted to Detroit via Chicago, I've taken a lot of heat from the locals about my use of the word soda. For Vergil, perhaps most of the soda-pop speakers are in both blue and yellow locales out of self-defense and a desire to fit into the local culture while at the same time maintaining one's 'native' traditions.

My guess, Virgil (I live in that "soda" enclave), is that you're seeing in part the effect of a high percentage of transplants from the east coast. On the other hand, I've relatives who've barely ever been to the east coast and still have always said "soda".

OK, I will not feel complete now unless I know the origin of the word soda. Is it from sodium>>sodium-bicarb>>makes bubbles or is it the fact that its a drink in a glass bottle? (I think soda is somewhere related to making of glass).

I've been waiting for someone else to mention this, but I see that I will have to speak up for those in northeastern MA (very few of whom say "soda" or "pop" you may notice) who grew up calling the fizzy substance "tonic." Does anyone else remember Twin Lights tonic,
named after the Thatcher Island Twin Lights lighthouses, bottled in Rockport? (I realize that some people now might call it "Twin Lights soda," but that's because they don't know better.)

Thanks, Margaret, you took the tonic right out of my mouth.