ob sie...

English translation: whether they

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

German term or phrase:	ob sie...
English translation:	whether they
Entered by:	Klaus Dorn (X)

19:43 Jun 5, 2002

German to English translations [Non-PRO]
Marketing - Human Resources / Human Resources

German term or phrase: ob sie...

Es liegt im Ermessen der Unternehmensleitung, *ob sie eine Zielvereinbarung mit den Abteilungen vereinbart oder nicht.* Dabei werden messbare Ziele festgelegt, welche mit der Unternehmensplanung im Einklang stehen.

This is a Human Resources document on Agreement of Objectives (Zielvereinbarungen)

Jessica Klingberg KudoZ activity Questions: 321 (none open) (2 without valid answers) (3 closed without grading) Answers: 45 United States
Local time: 15:43

whether they

Explanation:
whether they enter into a target agreement with the departments or not...

that's not an if, this is a "whether" (I love this word)

Selected response from:

Klaus Dorn (X)
Local time: 22:43

Grading comment

I used this example but reworked it a bit further. Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +14

whether or not it...

Ralf Lemster

4 +9

whether they

Klaus Dorn (X)

sentence

gangels (X)

Answers

4 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +9

whether they

Explanation:
whether they enter into a target agreement with the departments or not...

that's not an if, this is a "whether" (I love this word)

Klaus Dorn (X)
Local time: 22:43
Native speaker of:

English,

German
PRO pts in category: 14

Grading comment

I used this example but reworked it a bit further. Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Mirelluk

4 mins

agree

jerrie

5 mins

agree

Eva Blanar

10 mins

agree

Elvira Stoianov

18 mins

agree

Stefano Rosso

32 mins

agree

Norman Ellis

1 hr

agree

Dr. Fred Thomson: Yes, very much "whether" but not "if." However, the "or not" is redundant.

2 hrs

agree

Agnieszka Hayward (X)

4 hrs

agree

Helga

5 hrs

disagree

wrtransco: why they? You only see that in poorly written texts.

7 hrs

-> I think the management is referred to here as a group of people, very much like a football club, a political party...endless examples

neutral

Steffen Pollex (X): "whether" is, definitely, the term required here. But in terms of idiomacy I like most Ralph's suggestion with my slight adjustment proposed. "Mag." RaWa? Obviously, "Mag." not in English?! :-) And: once you disagree, where is your suggestion?

10 hrs

-> I think he meant "it" was grammatically more correct, which may be true, but in day-to-day language, we can find a lot of "they"

agree

Terry Gilman: they/it seems to be a UK/US difference in preference

2 days 19 hrs

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +14

whether or not it...

Explanation:
For example: "It is at the Management's discretion whether or not it agrees..."

Ralf Lemster
Germany
Local time: 21:43
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 4

3 days 21 hrs confidence:

sentence

Explanation:
...whether or not to set achievement goals in conjunction with (together with) the departments.

Eine Zielvereinbarung vereinbaren. Herrliches Deutsch.

gangels (X)
Local time: 13:43
Native speaker of:

English,

German
PRO pts in category: 67

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