What does the way you speak say about where you’re from?

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by pinksequins

Rotaries are circles in DC (Logan Circle, DuPont Circle), and I grew up knowing them as roundabouts (not sure of the region that represents). (Rotary is a civic organization!) And AGDee is absolutely right -- roly polies -- that's them!

A rotary is definitely a traffic circle in New England. In most places, they're labeled as such.

Originally Posted by pinksequins

What part of the South, AGDee? I truly don't know anyone who calls a shopping cart a buggy. You are still correct on roly-poly! (So it must be the roundabout that planted me in the Southeast.)

Some of my PA friends call a shopping cart a buggy. I call it a carriage

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

I have a different question. Around here, we have something that is commonly called a "Michigan turn." I've always wondered about this name, because other places must have them, too. AGDee, have you heard this term? Instead of making a left turn, at busy intersections/boulevards, you often have to turn right, then come back around. I googled it, and found articles, images, etc.

I've never heard the term "Michigan turn," but we have a lot of these here in Houston, although, you're still permitted to take the left at the intersection. NJ virtually eliminates the ability to make a left turn at busy intersections and makes use of jughandles to turn in the desired direction. It takes some getting used to, but it's so smart and keeps traffic moving. Since moving to TX, I estimate that I spend at least twice as long sitting at traffic lights than I did in Jersey.