h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm from central Kansas where pop was the term used for carbonated beverages. I had an uncle from Texas who called it "soda water".

I was born and raised in Oklahoma, which is considered the South, though I think of it as the West. But nevertheless, I've always called carbonated beverages 'pop.' As in, "I'm gonna get a pop. If you want one, what kind do you want?"

We also say 'Y'all' (you all) when we're talking to more than one person, as in, "Why don't y'all come on over this evening?" It's never used when referring to only one person.

I'm from the East Coast and almost everyone in this part of the country says "soda" and not "pop". I had thought pop was more of a western thing, and soda was eastern.

And other minor quibbles, I don't think I would count the word "eraser" as slang, that's a standard word and what else do you call the thing you use to erase writing? Also, "pants" isn't what I'd call slang, but again common American non-slang usage.

I have to agree with Flying Betty. I grew up on the East Coast and I didn't know "pop" was anything other than a verb until I was in high school.

snazoo

I grew up in Oklahoma (considered a "border state" in a recent study on southerners) then moved to Houston (Texas was called a partial southern state, the other part western - El Paso is closer to Los Angeles than to Houston). Many people I know would say "coke", regardless of what variety soft drink they were referring to, sort of like saying "I'm gonna xerox this". The power of advertising.

Oh, and the plural of "y'all" is "all y'all". Really.

Please . . . let's get a british person in here . . . what DO you call erasers?

Well, we use rubbers to erase a mistake!!

and we use rubbers to prevent mistakes
aka unwanted babies

Yeah, dont confuse the two!! lol

Apparantly the Aussies use Durex to stick things together, you call it sticky-tape, and we call it sellotape... we use durex for the the same reason u use rubbers!

can anyone from down under confirm this?



And where is everyone? I know the new re-regestration process was a pain, but where have all the peeps gone?. Ah well, start again and join the FMA if u like cat things: Were going to take over the world when we have more members. Free cat food for all, and death to felixogonists (Yeah, ok I made that up) bit like misogenist, but with cats.
Purr purr Miaow, *washes back leg for 10 mins* purr

sticky tape? i'm confused . . . you mean tape?

Well, that stuff u tear off with your teeth to hold things down!...
Thats the tape, not the rubbers, erm I mean... oh what the, u know wat I mean, its 02:47, and was at a folk concert till 00:00, so be kind to me!

the stuff you tear with your teeth to hold things down.
ok.
too much! too many english languages! that's it - i'm learning latin and speaking only to myself.

Mea culpa.... Thats about all the latin I can remember off hand, but got an 'A' grade in our 'O' levels, the exams u take at 15/16. Not that it did me any good! I still write in english. Ah well, lets go to Old English; hows your Chaucer?


PS got too many threads going here, so sorry for any long delays.

And got to get my lads lunch ready for tomorrow.

Purr purr

my chaucer is practically nonexistent . . . i read a few sections of the canterbury tales for a class, and liked them muchly, but have not read anything since.
that is, if chaucer means the author, and not some obscure british term . .
how is your stoppard?

Stoppard! Less than ur Chaucer!!! Too much of a classisics person. Trying to run too much, as usual. Back in a bit, or best join me on "long walks" or "why" from my space.
And join the FMA while ur at it!!!! pol!

After 17/10/03(UK) Will be offline till early November, U can get me at: (and I dont care who else reads it) 184 High Street, Halmerend, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England, ST7 8AD. Will reply to u.

UGGHH 08:20 and off to bed. Long live the FMA!!!
should be back for a short while tomorrow.

Write if u want to.

21:07 here, out for a bit, but will be back!!!