How to name two objects that are similar in structure and function? Similar, similar. But there is such a foreign word, Russified in order - it is identical. This is what we will consider today in as much detail as possible.
Looks like English but is actually French
English is very fashionable now, not only fashionable, but necessary. All the most basic and advanced is translated into English. By the way, there is a misconception associated with English, that in Europe almost everyone knows it almost the same as their native language. All this is not true. Ordinary people understand foreign languages no better than the average Russian. So you can not complex.
It also seems that the word identical is the acquisition of the last time just because of the rapid anglicization of Russian. All this could be true, but if we ask a specialist, an etymological dictionary, he will not deceive.
So, the word, as already stated in the sub title, is French. But this is not the biggest mystery, more important is something else: when did the adjective appear in the language?The event happened in the 19th century. The French word looks like this: identique and means "the same." Now dictionaries do not philosophize and translate "identical". But this is not enough for us. So do not think that we are “dragging” only from English, some language baggage is very old. In addition, the Russian is so big that he will definitely digest everything.
Meaning
We spent a lot of time on the origin, it's time to talk about the meaning. The reader himself will certainly give a close definition to the dictionary. For example, there are two devices. One is cheaper, the other is more expensive. But in terms of functions, they are the same, at least for a single buyer. For example, an expensive and cheap laptop. A person needs technology only for the production of text. Maybe one can turn into a plane and take him to Hawaii, but he does not need such a service, he needs a typewriter. The question of whether at least something in the world can be a copy of something else, we will consider at the very end, but for now we will turn to the explanatory dictionary, it has been waiting for a long time: identical is “identical, completely identical.”
Language always involves some liberties. Our laptop example suggests that they are certainly not equal, at least in terms of price and additional features, but for a single buyer, luxurious and modest objects may well coincide. Let's leave this complicated topic for now and move on to synonyms for the word "identical".
Substitutions
When it comes to the wordforeign language origin, then alternatives to the object of study are necessary. Let's take a look at the list:
- similar;
- same;
- adequate;
- identical;
- similar.
Some adjectives suggest an interesting thought: identical objects do not exist in nature, even twins are different. But we are probably talking about the similarity of the result. For some, for example, the Volga is no different from the Mercedes, because this and that is a car.
Search for identical objects
We have to pick up the idea that we developed when we talked about the meaning of the object of study. Indeed, even twins do not look alike. Even if they are externally similar, internally they are almost always different. After all, such people have their double accompanying them all the time, can you imagine what a thirst for asserting their own unique, unique individuality should be?
Therefore, the use of the meaning of the word "identical" is possible only within certain limits of certain functions. Remember the famous phrase "substitutes identical to natural"? But after all, even if you do not dive into the subtleties, it is clear that such a statement, to put it mildly, is strained. Most likely, the additive in the product performs the functions of a natural fruit, but this does not make it a natural fruit. So sometimes the adjective “identical” is a weapon of marketers who want to mislead a person. Citizens, be vigilant!
Or another example. A man comes andasks him to pick up a phone that would be similar to an expensive one, but cheaper. A skilled sales assistant, of course, will fulfill the desire of the client, but will such an operation equalize two devices - expensive and cheap? Only in the eyes of the buyer, as he associates the phone with a certain set of functions.
We hope the reader understands what is meant? There are not many objects in the world that coincide with each other, except perhaps only those created by human hands. For example, models of devices released on the same conveyor at the same time, and even then, if they are disassembled to the screw, there will be minor, or maybe, on the contrary, significant deviations.
After we have learned the meaning and synonym for "identical", we can say only one thing with certainty: objects can be called similar if you close your eyes to the details. I would like to believe that parsing the word this time was not too difficult.
