If said a certain way, these words and phrases are a dead giveaway to where you’re from.
In his book “Speaking American” Josh Katz learned that some words are dead giveaways for where an American grew up.
“Some words are like out-of-state license plates—they’re dead giveaways that you’re not from around here. Just try rhyming aunt with can’t in parts of the Northeast or Upper Midwest (you can’t) or ordering a sub in Philadelphia, the epicenter of hoagie country.
In recent years, linguists have pondered whether the homogenizing effects of TV, film, and the Internet have begun to eliminate many so-called regionalisms. To find out, I surveyed Americans about how we talk for my book, Speaking American.”
What we call insects that glow at night
What we call a sale of household items
How we address a group of people
What we call carbonated beverages
Where we throw our trash
What we haul freight in
What we drink from in public places
What we call athletic footwear
How many syllables in caramel?
