Miss Elainie

I Don’t Talk Funny!

(Pick the word that is familiar to you or add one of your own)

1. Soda, Soft Drink, Soda Pop or Tonic

I grew up saying "pop." While I was in college, I was trained to say "soda" so I wouldn't be laughed at. As soon as we moved out of that state, I intentionally slid back to "pop" although I still call it "soda" sometimes. My brother insists on "sodapop" for some reason.

2. Hoagie, Sub, Po Boy, Grinder

Most people around here call 'em "subs" or "sub sandwiches."

3. Goobers or Peanuts

Hee. They are "peanuts" to me, but I know a good camp song about "goober peanuts."

4. Candlepin or Ten-Pin bowling

Never heard of the first word. I just call it "bowling" unless I mean some variation like ninepin.

5. Dungarees or Blue Jeans

"Jeans." My mom got in trouble with her mother-in-law for letting my sisters play outsie in "dungarees" when they were little, though. I never say "blue jeans" unless I'm differentiating between the blue ones and the black ones.

6. Shopping Carriage, Shopping Cart, Buggy

I use "shopping cart" unless I'm in England, where they are called "shopping trolley." There's a family joke about them. It's not funny unless you've heard my nieces going on about it.

7. Frappe or Milkshake

"Shake."

8. Jimmies or Sprinkles

I grew up with "sprinkles" and had to have "jimmies" explained to me in college. I still think it's a goofy word, and prefer "sprinkles."

9. Hot Dog or Frankfurter

"Hot dog, get your hot dogs here!"

10. Relative or Kin

Totally "relative."

11. Soda Crackers or Saltines

For all the infrequent times I refer to them at all, "soda crackers." Mom almost always called them that, but occasionally went with "Saltines."

12. Rubbish, Trash or Garbage.

I rarely say "rubbish." It was always "trash" when I was growing up, but again, the people I went to college with called it "garbage." "Trash," however, seems to have a connotation of dryness, while "garbage" is, er, wetter. I tend to follow that subconsciously.

13. Rotary or Traffic Circle

We don't have them around here, but if I talk about them at all I call them "roundabouts" since my primary experience with them is in England.

14. Barbeque, Grill Out or Cookout

"Barbecue" is a kind of food; we usually "grill out" when Beast uses the grill (hmmm, wonder why?). A "cookout" for me involves camping, or at least picnicking.

15. Funnel Cake or Fried Dough

My only experience with this is at the various county and state fairs I've gone to. Most of the time you can get "funnel cakes" in one booth and "fried dough" in another. I'm not fussy about what they're called, just bring it on!

16. Flapjacks, pancakes, or griddlecakes

I'm all about the "pancakes."

17. Bedroom Suite or Bedroom Suit

I've NEVER heard it referred to as a "suit." Frankly, I think "suite" is a little la-di-dah; I just call it "matching furniture." Maybe I'd feel different if we actually had matching furniture!

18. Bundles, Sacks or Bags (of Groceries)

"Sacks" are paper, while "bags" can be either but are usually plastic nowadays. Mom always called them "paper bags" but I generally make the distinction between plastic and paper with the words "bag" and "sack." Bundle never figures in at all.

19. Front Entrance or Front Stoop

How about "porch" instead of "stoop," or "front steps?" I've never used "stoop" seriously in my life, and "front entrance" sounds like a shop of some kind.

20. Frying Pan or Skillet

Hmmm, I seem to have a split personality on this one. I grew up with "skillet." Somewhere along the line, it was middle-classed into "frying pan." Now I use both, just about equally, depending on how gentrified I want to be. I never really thought about it...and I really don't use a frying pan OR a skillet very often....