Decades ago, Harvard University’s linguistics professor, Bert Vaux, designed a language survey for English-speaking folks. Vaux wanted to see if the words and phrases people use in their everyday language could help identify where they lived. Turns out, there are many, many regional words and phrases that are unique to specific areas of the United States. For example: Do you drink water from a “drinking fountain” or a “water fountain?” Perhaps neither! If you’re from Boston or Milwaukee, you might drink water from a “bubbler.”
Exact same thing but different names
I think Professor Vaux had a fascinating idea. It’s fun learning the different names people give to the items we use every day. That’s why I plan to implement an unofficial survey of my own. (I hope that’s OK with Dr. Vaux.) I think it’ll be interesting and fun to use the following words and phrases as I survey the people we meet while RVing. You might want to try it as well.
A fun conversation starter
What do you call athletic shoes? Sneakers, tennis shoes, or something else?
What do you call a carbonated, sugary drink? Soda, pop, or Coke? (In the South, all varieties are called “Coke.”)
What do you call the miniature lobster-like creatures that live in lakes and streams? Crawfish, crayfish, or crawdads?
Where does water come from? A spigot, the tap, or a faucet?
What do you call a spider with very long legs? A granddaddy, a daddy long legs, or a granddaddy long legs?
What do you call the red liquid that tops your spaghetti? Tomato sauce, gravy, or spaghetti sauce?
What do you call a long sandwich, usually made with cold cuts, cheese, and veggies? A sub, hero, hoagie, or grinder?
What do you call the last slice of bread? The heel, end, or crust?
Take BuzzFeed’s Regional Linguistic Test
After you’ve surveyed your camping neighbors, you might want to try out BuzzFeed’s quiz. It uses keywords and phrases in an attempt to determine where you live. I took the quiz, and it concluded that I must be from Michigan. I do live in the Midwest (Missouri). So, they were pretty close, regionally. You can take the quiz for yourself right here. Have fun!
##RVT1033
I guess I’ve been full timing too long and picked up the language of the locals. Born and raised in Montana and now snowbird in AZ. Traveled for 12 years. But I got New York. Not even close.
Language quiz was totally wrong. It concluded, “Indiana.” Not only have I never lived there, I have never been there longer than passing by.
Being a military brat, I’ve been to many States and other Countries, picking up pieces and terms across this Great Nation.
It said I was from Wisconsin. Only sorta, remotely accurate. I have family from WI who we visited frequently decades ago. I was raised and still live at least a thousand miles from there, and unlike my WI relatives I do not end every sentence with “y’know” or “eh”.
Said I was from California, I’ve never even been there. Grew up in Minnesota and now live in Wisconsin……..
Well, It sez I live in New Jersey. Did during my formative years but, moved away from there in the 1960’s. Have lived in Italy, Fl., Md., Va., Oh., Ut. & now NM. There were several where I could have answered a few of them using ‘Other’, but after sounding them out in my head, I choose what sounded (?), correct to me. Reckon ya can’t get the Joisy out oncet it creeps in eh.
Quiz said I’m from Michigan and lo and behold I am.
Said I’m from California and that is correct.
I just tried the Linguistics Test but it reckons that I am from New Jersey.
I am actually from England (the old England). Wow! Do you think that I would blend in like a local in Seaside Heights NJ, rather than a pasty Limey in socks and sandals? 🤭
Said that I’m from California. I have been there three times (I am 64 years of age), but I am from a place about 3000 miles east of there. About 4 or 5 of the questions lacked the correct answer for me, but also lacked the frequent answer of none of the above.
Came up with New York and I’m from CT so that’s pretty close.
I’m from CT, too. I lived in Texas for 20 years and have full-timed for 10. It said I’m from Joisey :). Maybe it’s other influences.
I grew up in Texas. I have lived in Tennesse the last 30 years. The test says I’m from California. Sorry, not even close! 😉
Said I’m from California and I’ve lived my entire life in Ohio. My total time in California is maybe a week.
I was born and raised in Georgia and have lived in NC, SC, and FL, but the quiz concluded that I was from New Jersey! Quite a difference!
Delaware? I’ve never been closer than a thousand miles to Delaware. Have lived my whole life 2000 miles from Delaware. But hey, close. 😀
Hmmm, does it break it down to sub sects for a state?
Being from Jersey, we have people who call water…”wooder” lol
It got me right on,TN
It’s an interesting idea but apparently it doesn’t work that well. I was raised and lived most of my 71 year life in Colorado, but it says I’m from California, a place I’ve only visited a few times. My grandparents were from Kansas and Colorado and would have answered all of the questions I remember the same way. The main thing I notice that’s different when I visit California is that they have an accent compared to what I’m used to. Perhaps they pronounce words the same way as us Coloradans, though.
I’m a 4th generation Coloradoan and I got Utah. Close, but not correct.
It got the place of my birth, Ohio. Kentucky was my education and I’ve lived most of my life in Arizona.
Ha! The language quiz was way way off. I never lived in South Carolina, the location picked after I answered 40 questions. I have lived in Cleveland and Dayton Ohio (growing up) and St. Louis as an adult. Is it because so many from Ohio have moved to South Carolina and the combination of Midwestern and southern pronunciations that helps produce that answer?
Way off for me, I was picked as Georgia. I’ve lived my whole life in the Midwest, in Iowa.
I live in western Canada and Michigan was the result, so I guess it was close enough.
I got New York…I’m a native Floridian
It got the right coast for me anyway, but wrong state. Too many questions have more than one answer but you can only pick one.
I’ve been a lifelong Michigan resident until we went fulltime 12 years ago. The test said I’m from California, which I’ve only visited twice for a week each time.
You can’t do much worse than that. That’s five minutes I wish I had back to do something more useful.
Uh, I grew up in CA and now live in Utah. The quiz said New Mexico. I’ve only been to NM once LOL!
Well the test was spot on. I grew up in Michigan but have lived all over and picked up different dialects on the way but the test still said Michigan. I think the dead give away was Devil’s Night.
This quiz is something else! It said I’m from Montana, but I am full blooded Texas born!
Said I am from Nevada – about 2000 miles off. Just more fake news from BuzzFeed.
This was just for fun! What do you do when something is serious? Lighten up. Life is a party! This test will be really different depending on your education and what you read. Some Texan’s do not sound like Texan’s at all!
so you’re Mexican. that’s ok.😁😜
That is funny. I went to California when my son graduated from the Marine Corp but have lived in South Dakota most all my life.
I got California from the Linguistic test but I live in Vancouver BC. At least it is the correct coast, although I don’t sound like my relatives who live in W”OR”shington state.
It nailed me! Although I was born in WI, I left at age 20 and have lived in CA most of the rest of my life. I think they’re wrong about bubbler though. A bubbler is a drinking fountain that is always on, so it continually bubbles. If you have to turn a metal gizmo to release water, then it’s not a bubbler, it’s a fountain.
Born in Colorado. Left at 18 months. Moved to Calif where I still reside. It said Massachusetts….lol. When I worked I had several people say they thought I was from New York.
I’m southern born and bred, and have lived in the South all my life. This silly quiz says I’m from New Jersey! Get real!
California? Not a chance! But I can understand the erroneous result; through the end of high school, I’d lived in (in order of residence) Montana, New York, Idaho, Washington, Virginia, Washington, Alaska, Minnesota, and Alabama. Sometimes I get confused about the way I talk!
Mine said California. Only missed it by a hair. Born and raised in North Carolina.
Mine said California, too, but I grew up in Ohio and have also lived in Montana, South Dakota, Virginia, and Georgia. 🙂
Mine was close. It said New York, but I’m on the other side of Lake Ontario in southeast Ontario.
More garbage from Harvard.
Mine said New Jersey, but I’m from NY. Close? Not really, Northern NY (where I live) and Metropolitan NY speak in different languages. I think it was the “you guys” that put me in NJ.
The test thought I am a Californian. Nope! I was born and reared in Texas where I have lived for 69 of my 72 years.
Mine quiz says d I was from South Carolina. Nope , from Central NY area most of my life, tho have relatives in NC and Fl🤣🤪
Edit button doesn’t work. No “d”
Mine placed me in New Jersey. I’m actually a native Texan!
mine said CA but I’m from Indiana
California and quiz said California.
I thought the test was fun! Sure pointed out some “differences” – some I knew because my husband is from PA and we laugh all the time at some of his terms for things. It nailed me, but lots of people do, so I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. Even though I’ve traveled a lot as a “Navy brat”, I’ve always kept my CA accent!
Said New Jersey. Close, was born in the Bronx NYC raised in Nassau County NY.
It says I’m from south Carolina. I’m actually from Northern Missouri. I’ve been to SC once, n didn’t understand some of their words., ie; “fizzy drink” is a carbonated soda, any flavor, “step on it” while driving is to hurry it up quickly.
The quiz said California, which is not correct, though I do live in the Pacific Northwest. Perhaps West Coast would be more accurate.
Hi, CeeCee. I tried it last night (hadn’t tried it before). I’ve lived in the Seattle area for 76 years. (I’ve never been further east than Missoula, Montana.) It said I was from Pennsylvania. 😆 Have a good evening. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com