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swivel lug
not merely
Mar 16, 2005 08:57
19 yrs ago
English term

...for everyone who speaks English, **or wants to**!

English Marketing Linguistics - flow and/or grammar
"This is the essential reference for everyone who speaks English, or wants to!"

How does the "or wants to!" make the sentence sound? How would you rephrase it while staying close to the style?

This is taken from a description of a software product sold on at an online store.

Thank you!
Responses
4 +7 "or would like to"
4 +4 ... wants to learn
5 +2 To answer your first question....
4 +2 everyone who speaks or would like/wants to speak English
4 intends to speak to (speak it)
3 for English lovers and students
3 -2 ... for all of you who speak, or will speak, English!

Discussion

Non-ProZ.com Mar 17, 2005:
But it was very helpful to hear all of your improvement suggestions! Thank you!
Non-ProZ.com Mar 17, 2005:
The text is not a translation at all, that's why I should be very surprised and indeed perturbed if it sounds like translatese! However, other answerers have mentioned that it sounds quite all right as it is. I guess that leaves me about as undecided as I was at the beginning! :)
Non-ProZ.com Mar 16, 2005:
Translatese? :)))
Non-ProZ.com Mar 16, 2005:
Initial feedback:
1. CMJ's suggestion doesn't work in this text. Gives up the upbeat tempo.
2. I'm not sure that "learn" is the target, we want to say that it's a kind of "instant help" - buy this dictionary and become fluent right away! Not exactly true, but that's the idea.

Responses

+7
2 mins
Selected

"or would like to"

one option.
Peer comment(s):
agree Patrick McKeown : Given asker's comments, this is probably the best version; that "or wants to" sounds like translatese and is definitely ambiguous! I've been wanting to speak English for years, and still can't get it right ;-D Maybe I should buy the book!
11 mins
agree mportal
1 hr
agree Paula Vaz-Carreiro
4 hrs
agree Margarita
4 hrs
agree Yvonne Becker
6 hrs
agree Can Altinbay : I like this one very much.
12 hrs
agree Alfa Trans (X)
18 days
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "All comments and answers were helpful. I ended up using "or would like to"."
+2
2 mins

everyone who speaks or would like/wants to speak English

another way, to avoid the "to" at the end

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2005-03-16 09:12:42 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

for all English-speakers and those who would like to join them
Peer comment(s):
agree Johan Venter : everyone who speaks - or wants to speak - English
1 hr
agree mportal
1 hr
Something went wrong...
-2
23 mins

... for all of you who speak, or will speak, English!

First, I think the statement sounds ok as it is.

If you need to change, one possible change is: "..., or aspires to."

or for reflecting more resolve:
... for all of you who speak, or will speak, English!
Peer comment(s):
disagree Maria Chmelarova : with will speak ...
4 hrs
disagree Peter Linton (X) : To me, "will speak" is just the future tense, and does not convey the wish to speak English. What would work, as you point out, (though the register is too high), is" ... for all of you who speak, or aspire to speak, English."
8 hrs
You're right on both accounts. Maybe replacing "aspire" with "wish" would hold the register down enough.
Something went wrong...
+4
2 mins

... wants to learn

is what I'd say. "... wants to" sounds a bit off.
You could also say "... or wants to learn how"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 24 mins (2005-03-16 09:21:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

If you\'re looking for the instant help aspect, you\'ll need to rephrase:
\"For everyone who wants to improve their English\"
Peer comment(s):
agree Laurel Porter (X) : "Would like" in place of "wants" raises the register, if that's desirable.
1 min
agree Olga B : wants to learn "it"
19 mins
agree marybro : wants to learn "it"...this will apply to both spoken exercises (CD practice) or written exercises
4 hrs
agree Maria Chmelarova : ...with marybo's expl.
5 hrs
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

intends to speak to (speak it)

(it's better to omit *speak it*)
GOand.NET : Wouldn't it be easier...... Not everyone in the world speaks English Seething Hatred. ... Don't have anything against the German language, don't intend to speak it at any time... ...
www.goand.net/home/topic.php?TOPIC_ID=1529 - 38k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages


Downwind Of Amsterdam... The cab driver speaks neither English nor Dutch, but he did understand ... you speak Dutch to them, which is our goal if we intend to speak it better. ...
www.awfulgood.com/index-new.php - 513k - Cached - Similar pages


Dáil Éireann - Volume 108 - 05 November, 1947 - Proposed Sale of ...... and those he speaks for, in their hearts despise and hate an independent ... did not intend to speak. It is not a matter that affects this Parliament or ...
historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/ D/0108/D.0108.194711050022.html

Reference:

historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/ D/0108/D.0108.194711050022.html

http://www.awfulgood.com/index-new.php

Something went wrong...
6 hrs

for English lovers and students

and aficionados

sounds odd because if they already speak English, they normally wouldn't want it or need it - just an idea :-)
Something went wrong...
+2
6 hrs

To answer your first question....

To my 'Merrican ears, the sentence is just fine as it is.

I would see this as a subheading to a book, say,

Joe's Language
...for everyone who speaks English, or wants to.

No need of rephrasing in my opinion.
Peer comment(s):
agree Peter Linton (X) : Likewise to my Br Eng ears. The other answerers make some valid and pertinent suggestions, well worth considering, and the phrasing is hardly elegant, but I find nothing amiss or objectionable in this particular context and register.
2 hrs
agree Alaa Zeineldine
20 hrs
Something went wrong...
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