https://www.proz.com/kudoz/french-to-english/other/76747-souhaite-elle-fermer.html?
Aug 19, 2001 18:13
22 yrs ago
French term

souhaite-elle fermer

French to English Other
Excerpt from a business letter. My question is 'Eco souhait-elle fermer la filiale CH.'a question or a statement?' From the context it seems to be a question, but has no 'point d'interrogation'

J’espère que nous recevrons très prochainement des informations : Eco souhaite-elle fermer la filiale CH. Je suis pour ma part intéressé à reprendre la gestion de mes clients, et eux aussi, évidemment. Des bruits et rumeurs de toutes sortes vont bon train dans le « village suisse », et c’est catastrophique pour les affaires !

Dans l’hypothèse où un projet suisse subsisterait, votre mémo du 23/7/01 mérite d’être réactivé appelle de ma part les commentaires suivants :

Proposed translations

+1
44 mins
Selected

a question

even if there is no interrogation mark.
I'll give it a try.
"I hope to receive shortly some information, namely, whether Eco intends to close..."

regards

Paola L M
Peer comment(s):

agree Patrick McKeown : I would try "I hope we something soon about whether Eco is going to close ...
3 mins
Yes, thanks.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thank you Paola (and to the others) I was not sure"
45 mins

it's probably a question

The context very strongly suggests the writer is asking a rhetorical question. The affirmation doesn't require the "-elle", so perhaps the question mark was simply overlooked? We've all worked with executives in a hurry and they don't always worry about punctuation!
Something went wrong...
1 hr

does (Eco) wish to close?

Yes, it's a question.
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2 hrs

Variation upon a theme

J’espère que nous recevrons très prochainement des informations : Eco souhaite-elle fermer la filiale CH.

I hope that we will receive (will be receiving) information very shortly...

Does Eco wish to close the Swiss branch?
(Assuming that CH is referring to the country code).

If you want to phrase it as a question, then you have to use the right form of "do" + subject + main verb + object. You could run the whole thing together, as Paola has done. Although I would suggest that "shortly" be placed differently in her version ("I hope to receive some information shortly") :

I hope that we will be hearing very shortly whether Eco wants to close the CH branch or not. (One way round the question thing if it makes sense in context)

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