"NOT cheap imitations, but genuine replicas!" [NT]

[Wilson Gray]

I should have made clear that I was quoting a spam ad for "Rolex"
watches, in which the distinction, "imitation" vs. "replica," is
laughably meaningless. What distinguishes between an "imitation" of a
Rolex and a "replica" of a Rolex? In neither case is the watch a
genuine Rolex. A difference that makes no difference is no difference.

Naturally, there do occur situations in which "imitation" vs.
"replica" makes complete sense.

-Wilson

On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 1:30 PM, victor steinbok <aardvark66 at gmail.com> wrote:
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       victor steinbok <aardvark66 at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: "NOT cheap imitations, but genuine replicas!" [NT]
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> 460 GB hits for "genuine replica(s)". No, I am not kidding.
>
> Among the first 30 hits the date range is 1886-2005, including this
> 1886 travel guide:
>
>> VI. Room: Genoese masters, such as: Strozzi, Portrait of a prelate; also, Titian, Mary Magdalene, a genuine replica of an oft-recurring subject, the landscape only free from retouching; Guercino, The tribute money.
>
> And this one from 1890 Good Housekeeping:
>
>> " Now, this work of art, madam," remarked the dealer " is a replica of the famous picture in the Corcoran gallery at Washington." " Well," replied Mrs. Taudree, eying the picture critically, " if you'll guarantee that it's a genuine replica, I'll take it."
>
> Compare that to the 2001 Martin Gardner book:
>
>> They are genuine replicas, not pseudo-replicas as in the scenarios by Reichenbach and Putnam.
>
> Also Teach Yourself Lotus Notes 7 (2005):
>
>> Each database has a unique replica ID that identifies it as a genuine replica and not just a copy of the ...
>
> [Presumably the missing text refers to data, but the page is not
> available in GB.]
>
> As I said, all of these appear on the first page of GB search (set to
> 30 hits per page).
>
> VS-)
>
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>

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