Once again, 7 years after taking that quiz for the first time, and having forgot how I answered last time, the quiz nails me down into central/southeastern WI.
I found it odd that “interstate” was not a choice for the “highway/freeway/expressway” question. I answered “highway”, since that’s what I often call a limited-access high speed road. However, in my area, a highway can also be a large multiple access road with stop lights and intersections. An interstate, however, is always the big road.
To me, “interstate” means an expressway that goes into another state. Many expressways do not.
I know of two “spas” in that sense. Most other places have changed to the more widely-known “convenience stores”
Well, here in Atlanta, we have a highway that completely encircles the city. It’s called Interstate 285 despite the fact that it only passes through four counties in Georgia. There’s also Interstate 16, which runs from Macon to Savannah.
So in Georgia, at least, an interstate doesn’t have to actually go between states.
Yeah, I know there are exceptions, we have one in WI, I-43 that goes from Green Bay to Beloit. But my mind always keys in on the ‘interstate’ bit.
If you want to say that Southerners use the language in illogical ways, I won’t argue with you.
Lol, you must never have listened to us Sconnies, talking about goin’ over by Culvers, near dem stop 'n go lights, aina? I won’t claim logic to our local lingo.
And I think perhaps the survey should have included ‘interstate’. I use that term also.
Of course the standard shibboleth out here is whether or not you use “the” when referencing the interstate. The correct answer, of course, is “Of course!” Anything else is a sign you are from foreign parts and don’t know any better. Or Oakland.
To me, interstate, freeway and highway are all interchangeable.
I found it interesting that kitty-corner was a main determiner word.
Sheee-yit, boy, I knew an ol’ girl from upair in WIS-consin. Y’ain’t lying, she shore did tawk funny.
To me, ‘highway’ can be anything resembling a main road. Could have anything from two lanes to twenty, could be limited-access or have intersections every mile and driveways more often; but probably a state road (not town or county road or city street) and probably going some significant distance (though I do know one only about five miles long, at least if you go by the road numbers.)
If I want to specify a limited-access highway, I’ll probably say ‘limited-access highway’. If I’m talking about a particular one, I’ll probably use its number (e.g. ‘How do I get back onto I81 from here?’ or more likely just ‘81’, or ‘81North’, or whatever.)
An expressway is limited access, but it also isn’t a word I use much. It’s probably around a city.
An interstate is a limited-access highway that continues through more than one state.
I recognize the word “freeway”, but again I don’t use it much. I certainly wouldn’t use it for a toll road.
The Thruway is the Thruway. (New York State Thruway, that is.)
I took the test again. This time, it pegged me as both Cleveland and New York. Interesting, since I’ve spent about half my life in or around each city. This time, no question about Halloween or soda.
Now I tried it with a different browser. Some different questions, and I wound up in California, where I’ve never lived.
I’ve taken it 4 times now, every time it’s the same results: New York/Jersey City/Yonkers.
Mischief Night is 30 October or 4 November here in Yorkshire, so this looks like an old tradition.
The main trick on 4 November is setting fire to people’s bonfires early.
I’d have expected Beleriand by the mouths of the Sirion.
I’d almost forgotten about this Wisconsin quirk. But I had a roommate who’d ask if you needed anything because he was “goin’ by the store”.
“Well, if, after you go by the store, you turn around and go back to the store, I could use some peanut butter.”
My mom explained it stemmed from the huge German population (she grew up in M’waukee when there were neighborhoods that only spoke German, and none of the store signs were in English).
She’d parody it whenever we’d go to Schuster’s department store, by saying “Hey, Chahlie, I’m comin’ the back door out, goin’ down by 'Chuster’s.”
@digs It’s always great to go by Schuster’s, Goldman’s, Prange’s, Farm & Fleet, Fleet Farm, da Kwik-Trip.
Here’s some more stuff you can hear in our region, from the Manitowoc Minute’s Charlie Berens.
At least you know you can speak the language should you feel the need to visit.