[Miata] 2 questions and regionalisms NMC

[Ron Zander]

Freeways don't cross state lines, there are quite a few in CA since  
it's so big. We usually callout the interstates with an I in front,  
I5 for example. But in L.A. the 405 would be a freeway since it is  
only in So Cal.


On Aug 3, 2007, at 8:14 AM, Mullen, Tim wrote:

> pethier at comcast.net pethier at comcast.net wrote:
>>>> A Minnesotan would never consider saying "THE 494".  It's just
> "494".
>>>>
>>>
>>> That's because you don't have as many freeways as we do.
>>
>> I don't see a cause-result relationship here.   Having 40
>> freeways instead of 5 would have nothing to do with this
>> linguistic quirk.
>
> It most likely evolved over time.
>
> Originally, freeways in Southern California had names (they
> still do).
>
> People referred to "The Pasadena Freeway".
>
> But as more were built, the freeways got longer.  The names
> changed depending on the area that you were in - for instance
> "The 10" is "The San Bernardino Freeway" when you are in the
> San Bernardino area, but when you get close to the coast,
> "The 10" becomes "The Santa Monica Freeway".  I believe it
> has at least one other name in between.  Similar things to
> the other freeways.
>
> So, instead of saying "Take the San Bernardino Freeway West,
> follow it through Pomona, Covina, etc. until it becomes The
> Santa Monica Freeway and get off at Exit XYZ."  It just
> became much easier to say "Take the 10 until Exit XYZ".
>
> Or take the 10 to the 405 North...
>
> Much easier, much simpler, and most people actually don't
> know all the names anyway.
>
>
> While on the subject of regionalisms, notice that in
> California, they refer to "Freeway" while the rest of the
> country refers to "Interstate"?
>
> Tim Mullen
> <winmail.dat>
> _______________________________________________
> Miata mailing list
> Miata at list.realbig.com
> http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/miata