...reminiscent...

Question

What he experienced was so reminiscent of myself.   Would you say this reads idiomatically? Thank you PBF

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Hi PBF,
I'd say "reminiescent" is like "similar" in comparing things of the same type. Sometimes you must help the reader to see what you're comparing.

"What he experienced was so reminiscent of my own feelings / adventures," or something of that nature. Your "self" and your "feelings" and your "adventures" represent different categories.

What do you mean by "what he experienced?" Are you talking about his feelings, or his adventures? - or something else?

When you say "He reminded me of myself" you're comparing person A to person B. When you say "The problems he had with his father reminded me of myself," You're comparing problems to person B. I dunno. Maybe it's okay. It only bothers me a little bit. It's probably not that unusual. What you write before it and after it could make it okay.

If you say, "What he experienced made me think of myself," it's okay because you're not specifically comparing A to B. I think "reminiscent" is a little different. I may be wrong.

Try to get another opinion.

- A.

Madhulk · Answer

You mean does it sound idiomatically?
If that's the case then I wouldn't be so sure.
According to my dictionary it's not an idiom.
Reminiscent of means reminding of.
So here the experience of that guy reminded you of yourself.
His experinces are similar to yours.

Avangi · Answer

Madhulk You mean does it sound idiomatically?

Hi Madhulk. Season's greetings!

Actually, PBF is correct about "idiomatic." "to sound" is one of those verbs - they have a special name which I can never remember. Anyway, they work like the verb "to be," and take adjective complements.

I am careful. NOT I am carefully.
She looks beautiful. NOT She looks beautifully.
I feel tired. NOT I feel tiredly.
That price sounds impossible. NOT That price sounds impossibly.
That price sounds high. NOT That price sounds highly. BUT That price sounds impossibly high, or highly impossible.

Happy New Year, guys! - A.

Edit. My brain must be fried. PBF wrote "Does it read idiomatically?" Different ball game. Actually, we sometimes use read in this way. It has both a transitive and an intransitive usage. I'm going to read the sentence now. I think the sentence reads well. It takes an adverb modifier. It also works as a noun. That was my first read (or reading).

"Drive" works exactly the same way. Go ahead. Take the car for a drive.(N.) Don't you know how to drive (INF.) a car? Go ahead. Drive (T.V.) it around the block. So, - how did it drive? (I.V.) It drives (I.V.) very well.

It reads well. (adverb - intransitive verb - regular) idiomatically (adv.)
It sounds good. (adjective - intransitive verb - special) idiomatic (adj.)

So anyway, Madhulk, do you think "His experiences are so remeniscent of myself" is okay?

Madhulk · Answer

AvangiSo anyway, Madhulk, do you think "His experiences are so reme(why the 'e'?) niscent of myself" is okay?

Not so sure but I'll give it a shot.
"His experiences are so reminiscent of mine. ~~myself~~"

Avangi · Answer

Good idea.

I just screwed up on the "e." At least I got it right a few times up above. I miss my old 1980's spell checker.

Peaceblinkfriend · Answer

Avangi and Madhulk, thank you both for your replies.

I wasn't sure if I have used 'reminiscent' idiomatically to mean what he experienced reminded my past. I agree yours was a good idea as well, Madhulk. I guess I remain undecided if I should use 'mine' or 'myself'.

AvangiEdit. My brain must be fried. PBF wrote "Does it read idiomatically?" Different ball game. Actually, we sometimes use read in this way. It has both a transitive and an intransitive usage. I'm going to read the sentence now. I think the sentence reads well. It takes an adverb modifier. It also works as a noun. That was my first read (or reading).

Don't worry, Avangi. We are allowed to have our brains fried at this time of the year. With [<:o)] and [D].

PBF

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