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Discussion Groups / English Usage / December 2006is to recall a synonym for "call to mind"?
Hi, "To recall": Is it correctly used in the example "Her photographs recall a dark episode in US history" ? > Hi, > > "To recall": Is it correctly used in the example "Her photographs > recall a dark episode in US history" ? Not to this USian, it isn't. A person can recall something; an inanimate object can't. An alternate definition of "recall" can be "to remind one of", but that is used in the physical sense, meaning to *resemble* someone or something, not merely to make a person think about them. >> Hi, >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >is used in the physical sense, meaning to *resemble* someone or >something, not merely to make a person think about them. Agreed. The best one-word alternative might be "evoked", unless they were photographs of the dark episode itself, in which case "recorded" would do the job.  SignatureBrad Germolene ADVANCE REMONIKERIZATION ALERT: Archie Valparaiso is coming (to stay, I promise) in January 2007. Pierre Viry, apparently, asks about: >>> "To recall": Is it correctly used in the example "Her photographs >>> recall a dark episode in US history" ? Nancy G.: >> Not to this USian, it isn't. A person can recall something; an >> inanimate object can't. It works for me as written, although it's not the primary sense of "recall". >> An alternate definition of "recall" can be "to remind one of", but >> that is used in the physical sense, meaning to *resemble* someone or >> something... I don't make that distinction. Ross Howard: > Agreed. The best one-word alternative might be "evoked", Certainly a good choice, except the original is present tense, so we want "evoke". > unless they were photographs of the dark episode itself, in which case > "recorded" would do the job. It might be factually correct, but it wouldn't say that they bring the episode to one's mind, which was presumably the point. SignatureMark Brader "You can't [compare] computer memory and recall Toronto with human memory and recall. It's comparing msb@vex.net apples and bicycles." -- Ed Knowles My text in this article is in the public domain. > > Hi, > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Not to this USian, it isn't. A person can recall something; an > inanimate object can't. Why not? > An alternate definition of "recall" can be "to remind one of", but that > is used in the physical sense, meaning to *resemble* someone or > something, not merely to make a person think about them. | Hi, | | "To recall": Is it correctly used in the example "Her photographs | recall a dark episode in US history" ? I like this best....... "Her photographs brought to mind a dark episode in US history" SignaturePosted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com || Hi, || [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] | | "Her photographs brought to mind a dark episode in US history" OR "Seeing her photographs, brought to mind a dark episode in US history." SignaturePosted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com The darras entity posted thusly: >Hi, > >"To recall": Is it correctly used in the example "Her photographs >recall a dark episode in US history" ? Sounds fine to me. It's another way of saying "bring to mind", or "make one think of". Reference: Western Canada. > The darras entity posted thusly: > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Sounds fine to me. It's another way of saying "bring to mind", or > "make one think of". Reference: Western Canada. I notice all the objectors are from the USA. To me, it seems fine; better than "are reminiscent of". SignatureRob Bannister 31 years England; 35 years Australia > Hi, > > "To recall": Is it correctly used in the example "Her photographs > recall a dark episode in US history" ? Suggest replacing "recall" with "recount", or "remind one of". "Remind one of" is probably the intended meaning, but "recall" doesn't fit because the photographs do not recall anything. Recollection requires a memory, which photographs do not have. Photographs are only a static record. You may have been searching for the similar word "recount". In a more romantic way, photographs can tell a story to those having the appropriate memories to recall. "Recall" will fit, albeit with a slightly changed meaning. Regards Harry _____________________ Old proverb DO die: "If 'ifs' and 'ands' were pots and pans, there'd be no need for tinkers." > > Hi, > > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > because the photographs do not recall anything. Recollection requires a > memory, which photographs do not have. Photographs are only a static record. Are we to be forbidden all metaphorical uses of English words? Can one letter no longer reply to another? Can a movie or play no longer give one cause to think? Can a school no longer educate? How far are you prepared to push this notion? And what do you say to the lexicographers who have perpetrated the likes of this: http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/orexxcall?view=uk (def. 2) http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=recall def. 2b) http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=65917&dict=CALD (def. 2 with example) http://www.bartleby.com/61/84/R0078400.html (def. 2) > You may have been searching for the similar word "recount". In a more > romantic way, photographs can tell a story to those having the appropriate > memories to recall. "Recall" will fit, albeit with a slightly changed > meaning. Oh, so "recall" fits after all. Never mind. SignatureBob Lieblich What was *that* all about? Robert Lieblich a ?crit : > > > Hi, > > > [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > Oh, so "recall" fits after all. Never mind. > > Hi, > > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > memories to recall. "Recall" will fit, albeit with a slightly changed > meaning. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the very frequent, and standard, use of "recall" in this sense. "Remind one of" is correct, but not so neat. "Recount" is probably wrong here: a picture is rarely worth a thousand words. SignatureMike. |
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