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syntax unclear

English translation: first the bad news: you can justifiably parse the sentence both the ways you suggest

15:31 Feb 8, 2005
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Management
English term or phrase: syntax unclear
I posted this in the EN > ES section, but thought I would seek help here as well. This appears in the description of the list of duties for the President of a Policy Council for a non-profit. I am having trouble unraveling the syntax for the sentence between ***, and would appreciate any help with it.

Could someone kindly paraphrase this for me? Does this mean "Assign those members of the Policy Council who are not signed up /// to a Component Standing Committee" or "Assign those members of the Policy Council /// who are not signed up to a Component Standing Committee".

And what would be the definition of a "Component Standing Committee"?

Many thanks :)


Here's the excerpt:
Review the Policy Council and Parent Committee meeting minutes with the Secretary prior to submission by the Secretary; and

***Assign those members of the Policy Council who are not signed up to a Component Standing Committee.***
Susana Galilea
United States
Local time: 21:20
Selected answer:first the bad news: you can justifiably parse the sentence both the ways you suggest
Explanation:
and your best chance of salvation is the surrounding context. On first glance, my gut reaction was "assign to a component standing committee those members not yet signed up". Then I began to think it could have the second meaning. But, maybe, in the end, it makes very little difference. What it is saying is that non-signed up members have to be assigned to one of the Standing Committees (permanent groups), each of which is responsible for a particular component.
HTH
Selected response from:

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 04:20
Grading comment
You deserve points for thoroughness. Thanks :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +3first the bad news: you can justifiably parse the sentence both the ways you suggest
CMJ_Trans (X)
5ambiguous
cjperera


Discussion entries: 9





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
first the bad news: you can justifiably parse the sentence both the ways you suggest


Explanation:
and your best chance of salvation is the surrounding context. On first glance, my gut reaction was "assign to a component standing committee those members not yet signed up". Then I began to think it could have the second meaning. But, maybe, in the end, it makes very little difference. What it is saying is that non-signed up members have to be assigned to one of the Standing Committees (permanent groups), each of which is responsible for a particular component.
HTH

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 04:20
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
You deserve points for thoroughness. Thanks :)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  cjperera: with CMJ despite David - if this is a real document originating in English, we can't be to picky about correctness - it is all about usage, and this usage is certainly used.
10 mins
neutral  David Moore (X): Your conclusion may be right, but the parsing ....the first way is incomplete, and therefore doesn't make sense.
11 mins
  -> I don't agree - the first way holds water also. Of course a lot will depend on the CONTEXT. If this follows on from something else, for example
agree  Dr Sue Levy (X)
46 mins
agree  conejo: It could be both. However I agree, my first reaction was "assign to a component standing committee those members not yet signed up".
2 hrs
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
ambiguous


Explanation:
ambiguous

cjperera
Local time: 04:20
Native speaker of: English
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