A Language Map of the U.S.

A statistics student from North Carolina State came out with a language map of the U.S., a fun linguistics study to see how where you live shapes the words you use. Give it a try! My results showed that not only am I indeed from California, but I was linguistically shaped by my very county! (The rest of California says “drinking fountain,” but just north of San Francisco we prefer “water fountain.” A profound distinction.)

Source: Buzzfeed

Source: Buzzfeed

I really enjoyed the study, until I reached the last question and learned that California is missing out on drive-through liquor stores. Ignorance was bliss, and now I am contemplating a move to Virginia.


(P.S. His next study should focus on rates of drunk driving in correlation with “brew thrus.”)

Were your results representative of where you are from?