# The NYTimes 25-question American Language Guess-Where-You're-From map/algorithm **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 24, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104 "2013-12-24T21:10:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/21 "2013-12-24T23:13:03Z")
I’m originally from Toronto, but have spent a number of years in various places in the province of Alberta. But apparently, I come from Long Beach and Glendale, in California; and for some strange reason, Boston. Interesting! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/22 "2013-12-24T23:15:12Z")
Yeah, they’re ripping off people without giving credit. Ugh. Plus I hate how shortsighted some of these questions are, e.g., the “crayon” one has: "… with two syllables—sounds like cray-ahn with two syllables, where the second syllable rhymes with dawn …" Um, what? They are the same answer. Sheesh. (On a lot these quizzes, “Don/dawn/…” is an important distinction. But strangely not used here.) It got the right half of the country. It won the coin flip. Woo-hoo. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/23 "2013-12-24T23:19:55Z")
One of the three “closest” cities was 30 miles from where I lived until I was 40. (Trivia note: I’m pretty sure it was also the first city in the San Francisco area to have a Best Buy.) ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/24 "2013-12-24T23:23:17Z")
Born in Texas . I then moved to Duluth, MN for 2 years in my 20s. Apparently Duluth influenced me as the test said that was the nearest area. My Texas influence was nil. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/25 "2013-12-24T23:26:13Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I’m originally from Toronto, but have spent a number of years in various places in the province of Alberta. > > But apparently, I come from Long Beach and Glendale, in California; and for some strange reason, Boston. > > Interesting! I’ve also lived in Toronto and Western Canada, and I got a couple of California cities and Reno, Nevada. I blame Hollywood and cable TV. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/26 "2013-12-24T23:27:04Z")
Pegged me exactly, with second a couple of hours away, and third somewhere that I’ve never been. I’m a bit surprised since I’ve got a strong influence from Tennessee and I’ve been told I use lots of “Southern” expressions. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/27 "2013-12-24T23:30:17Z")
It said Seattle, Portland/Vancouver (Oregon), or Salt Lake City. Seattle is right. Way to go, quiz. You caught me on calling them potato bugs. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/28 "2013-12-24T23:33:18Z")
Wow! It named the city where I was born and lived for the first 24 years. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Lurker\_Above](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Lurker\_Above](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lurker_Above)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/29 "2013-12-24T23:42:16Z")
I’ve always lived in southern Ontario so Buffalo and Detroit makes sense; but why is the 3rd possibility Salt Lake City? ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/30 "2013-12-24T23:44:23Z")
Drive-through liquor stores, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/31 "2013-12-25T00:10:37Z")
Grew up in southern MI and Northeastern IL, then moved to IA. Then joined the Navy and was stationed in CT, VA, HI and Scotland. First time I took this it gave me two cities in WI (“kitty-corner”) and one in upstate NY (“sneakers”). Second time I got a slightly different set of questions, and got the same two WI cities plus one in MN (all “kitty-corner”). My main problem with this quiz is deciding which answer to pick when several work. Y’all/you/you guys/you lot are all valid answers for me. So are pop/soda and mountain lion/cougar/puma. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/32 "2013-12-25T00:16:27Z")
Not too accurate for me. Newark/Patterson, Baltimore, and/or Honolulu. Born/raised/live in central Indiana. Apparently, I’m a bit of an oddball for the area for having separate pronunciations for cot/caught and Mary/merry/marry. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/33 "2013-12-25T00:26:48Z")
It pegged me at Detroit, Buffalo and Rochester, though I’ve never been in any of those places longer than one day. Probably because I lived in NYC for 25 years, and still have a few terms and pronunciations from there. Like the merry/marry/Mary thing. On the other hand . . . “tree lawn” is pure Cleveland. There really are drive-thru liquor stores? Wouldn’t that encourage people to drink and drive? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/34 "2013-12-25T00:27:30Z")
Pretty sweet. I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it surrounded my hometown with the city choices (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Toledo). I find it interesting because my folks were from southern California, and I lived there until I was 4, but apparently none of that survived the Michigan part of my life. And my entire adult life in Jersey hasn’t made a dent (allowing for the obvious choice of “Pop” of my youth instead of the NJ “Soda” when today I would say “Soda”). My SO is Brazilian; that would probably just confuse the test. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/35 "2013-12-25T00:55:11Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > It said Seattle, Portland/Vancouver (Oregon), or Salt Lake City. Seattle is right. Way to go, quiz. You caught me on calling them potato bugs. That question: for me, pill bug if it can roll, sow bug if it can’t (AFAIK I’ve never seen a pill millipede). To me, a potato bug is a creature that would give Lovecraft nightmares. A demon cricket basically. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/36 "2013-12-25T01:02:38Z")
I grew up in San Diego, but it gave me Glendale, Long Beach, and Fresno. I’m surprised it didn’t pick up on any of the New England-isms in my speech that I got from my Bostonian father. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/37 "2013-12-25T01:06:13Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > It sure nailed my location. > > I think “Bubbler” gave it away, though… Nailed me in Chicago (also guessing Aurora or Rockford.) I’m not sure about these “bubbler” and “tree lawn” type questions that are so geographically precise. Or the drive through liquor question which is not even that much a question of language as much as a question of whether they exist on your area. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/38 "2013-12-25T01:06:50Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > It said Seattle, Portland/Vancouver (Oregon), or Salt Lake City. Seattle is right. Way to go, quiz. You caught me on calling them potato bugs. Maybe if it had asked me — bawn ‘n’ bred in Tacoma, with a side trip to Montana for college — about potato bugs it would have pegged me closer than Yonkers 😕. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/39 "2013-12-25T01:11:53Z")
I’m from Minneapolis, Buffalo, or New York. Freak show. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104/40 "2013-12-25T01:12:27Z")
Said either Madison, Wisconsin or Greensboro, NC, but I’ve been in central Indiana all my life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nytimes-25-question-american-language-guess-where-youre-from-map-algorithm/677104.md?page=3)