What Do You Say?

What would you call a roll filled with meat, cheese, lettuce, and tomato: a sub, a grinder, or a hero? How about the fizzy drinks that come in a can: Are they soda, pop, or something else?

These are examples of regionalisms—words and phrases that are specific to certain parts of the country. Though we all use regionalisms, many people assume everyone speaks the same way they do. “You might not realize the things that you say that are distinctive,” says Josh Katz, graphics editor at The New York Times and author of the book Speaking American: How Y’all, Youse, and You Guys Talk. “People’s language is very tied up to their sense of identity and their sense of place.”

The data for the maps in Katz’s book came from a dialect survey he created a few years ago for the Times. The survey, which got more than 350,000 responses, asked people what they call common things—such as sugary drinks—and how they pronounce certain words, such as quarter. On the next few pages, you’ll see some of the results. “It’s important to recognize that there’s often no standard American English,” Katz says. “You have different regional expressions, none more right or wrong than any other. . . . Whether you’re calling it a lightning bug or firefly, it’s the same little bug.”

What would you call a roll filled with meat, cheese, lettuce, and tomato? Is it a sub, a grinder, or a hero? How about the fizzy drinks that come in a can? Are they soda, pop, or something else?

These are examples of regionalisms. That’s the term used to describe words and phrases that are specific to certain parts of the country. Though we all use regionalisms, many people assume everyone speaks the same way they do.

“You might not realize the things that you say that are distinctive,” says Josh Katz, graphics editor at The New York Times and author of the book Speaking American: How Y’all, Youse, and You Guys Talk. “People’s language is very tied up to their sense of identity and their sense of place.”

The data for the maps in Katz’s book came from a dialect survey he created a few years ago for the Times. The survey asked people what they call common things, such as sugary drinks. It also looked into how they pronounce certain words, such as quarter. The survey got more than 350,000 responses. On the next few pages, you’ll see some of the results.

“It’s important to recognize that there’s often no standard American English,” Katz says. “You have different regional expressions, none more right or wrong than any other. . . . Whether you’re calling it a lightning bug or firefly, it’s the same little bug.”

Katz’s survey showed that 82 percent of the country calls a sandwich on a long roll a sub. But things aren’t as simple in the Northeast. Sub is common in some places, but the same sandwich is also known by other names—such as hero, hoagie, grinder, and wedge.

Katz’s survey showed that 82 percent of the country calls a sandwich on a long roll a sub. But things aren’t as simple in the Northeast. Sub is common in some places, but the same sandwich is also known by other names—such as hero, hoagie, grinder, and wedge.

All the maps in Katz’s book are color-coded, like the one above. The darker the color of an area is, the higher the percentage of people who use that term. As you can see, in many states people use multiple terms for a fizzy soft drink. For example, in Oklahoma, the terms soda, pop, and coke are each popular in certain areas.

All the maps in Katz’s book are color-coded, like the one above. The darker the color of an area is, the higher the percentage of people who use that term. As you can see, in many states people use multiple terms for a fizzy soft drink. For example, in Oklahoma, the terms soda, pop, and coke are each popular in certain areas.

About half the people who took Katz’s survey say “you guys” when talking to a group of people. But in many areas in the South, “y’all” (a contraction of “you all”) is used most often. A mixture of terms can be heard in the lightly shaded places on the map. The next most common terms are “you all” and simply “you.”

About half the people who took Katz’s survey say “you guys” when talking to a group of people. But in many areas in the South, “y’all” (a contraction of “you all”) is used most often. A mixture of terms can be heard in the lightly shaded places on the map. The next most common terms are “you all” and simply “you.”

Bubbler is common in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and, oddly, halfway across the country in Wisconsin. The name probably refers to the way that water bubbles up from the fountain.

Bubbler is common in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and, oddly, halfway across the country in Wisconsin. The name probably refers to the way that water bubbles up from the fountain.

Throughout most of the U.S., people put “sprinkles” on an ice-cream cone or a cupcake. But if you were to visit Philadelphia and many parts of New England, you’d hear these same sugary bits called “jimmies.” Nobody knows for sure how jimmies came about. The candy company Just Born (which makes Peeps) claims to have invented the little grains of candy topping around 1930 and says it named them after the employee who made them. But some language experts think the name comes from jim-jams, an old term used to describe small items, or knickknacks.

Throughout most of the U.S., people put “sprinkles” on an ice-cream cone or a cupcake. But if you were to visit Philadelphia and many parts of New England, you’d hear these same sugary bits called “jimmies.” Nobody knows for sure how jimmies came about. The candy company Just Born (which makes Peeps) claims to have invented the little grains of candy topping around 1930 and says it named them after the employee who made them. But some language experts think the name comes from jim-jams, an old term used to describe small items, or knickknacks.

According to the results from Katz’s quiz, Americans pronounce quarter in two different ways. Since the 90s, the pronunciation with the “w” sound has become increasingly popular, with a spike in Louisiana and Hawaii. What else about this map stands out to you?

According to the results from Katz’s quiz, Americans pronounce quarter in two different ways. Since the 90s, the pronunciation with the “w” sound has become increasingly popular, with a spike in Louisiana and Hawaii. What else about this map stands out to you?

Technically, this bug is not really an insect. It belongs to the family of crustaceans. It lives in humid, shadowy spots underneath rocks or wood, and when disturbed, it curls up into a mini sphere. That’s where the popular name roly-poly comes from. Still, almost half the country refers to the little critter using other terms.

Technically, this bug is not really an insect. It belongs to the family of crustaceans. It lives in humid, shadowy spots underneath rocks or wood, and when disturbed, it curls up into a mini sphere. That’s where the popular name roly-poly comes from. Still, almost half the country refers to the little critter using other terms.

NOTE: In some charts figures don’t add up to 100% because of rounding and other factors.

NOTE: In some charts figures don’t add up to 100% because of rounding and other factors.

Maps excerpted from SPEAKING AMERICAN: How Y’all, Youse, and You Guys Talk: A Visual Guide by Josh Katz. Copyright ©2016 by Josh Katz. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Maps excerpted from SPEAKING AMERICAN: How Y’all, Youse, and You Guys Talk: A Visual Guide by Josh Katz. Copyright ©2016 by Josh Katz. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.