"IDENTIC" IN DIPLOMACY.
To not a few readers of the English, and American "notes" the word " identic," which was used by both Governments, must have seemed a novo! and rather impleading substitute for or shortening of the familiar "identical." The wor<] has long been used, however, iii diplomatic correspondence and documents, no doubt because of the influence exerted by French, once tho comtneu language of international exchanges and still familiar to more diplomats than any other one tongue. The Fre.i h say and write* "ident-ique," and or flat '• identic" is a nauiral trr nslation.
The shorter form, however, has a valid claim for preference, in that it say?, exactly what "identical" says, and does it without the pleonasm or redundancy which marks so nuuiy of our words end:ng in " ica!.'' Y, ley people persist in lengthening such sufficiently long words as "philosophic'' and "geographic" with a wholly needless " alit would bo hard to explain "•-almost, as hard as to explain the frequent appear,nice of such absurdities as "tally" and " stmerimnose. '
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Star (Christchurch), Issue 11504, 28 September 1915, Page 5
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170"IDENTIC" IN DIPLOMACY. Star (Christchurch), Issue 11504, 28 September 1915, Page 5
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