Re: "soda" has national meanings


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Posted by Peter H on February 06, 2005 at 15:09:42 from 81.158.214.254 user Peter_H.

In Reply to: posted by Ed Kiser on February 06, 2005 at 13:46:12:

In the UK, 'soda', as carbonated water for drinking, is usually called 'soda water'. I presume the term 'soda' is derived from sodium bicarbonate, with which soda water can be made (although unlike lemonade and exploding ginger beer it is not usually made in people's homes). Other sodium compounds have their own 'every day' titles, eg sodium carbonate is 'washing soda' and used for cleaning purposes, as in the AR examples which Ed cites. Sodium bicarbonate is known as 'baking powder' as it can be used as a substitute for yeast. One should not confuse these two....

Generally speaking in the UK you do not 'go for a soda' - soda for drinking is relatively tasteless and used only as a 'mixer'. I did mention 'cream soda' in a previous posting - this was sold in lemonade-sized bottles and had added sugar, and vanilla if memory serves me right. I was partial to it, but I haven't seen it on sale for years.

Thanks Ed, as always. I totally agree with you about 'Enjoy!' a transitive verb being used intransitively. It has arrived in the UK, I'm afraid, and appears to be spreading. It's like going into a bank and shouting 'Endorse!'



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