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- Thread starter mimi2
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Do you mean "Being able to read and speak a language are not a guarantee that a misunderstanding will not take place."
To enable someone to do something means you make them capable to do that thing. This software enables me to write replies to your posts. Thus I am able to answer your questions, to the best of my knowledge.
Enabling someone to read usually means you teach them how to read. But it could also mean that you give them books - you give them the possibility to read. Or, if they're visually impaired, the Braille alphabet enables them to read.
Just an opinion
Enabling someone to read usually means you teach them how to read. But it could also mean that you give them books - you give them the possibility to read. Or, if they're visually impaired, the Braille alphabet enables them to read.
Just an opinion
The ability to read and speak a language doesn't enable you to guarantee that no misunderstandings will occur/take place... It's correct, I think, but you changed the meaning a bit, "enable" no longer refers to the capacity of reading&writing, it now refers to the possibility of saying that no misunderstandings will happen. Was that what you meant in the first place?
Reading and speaking a language don't enable you to guarantee that misunderstanding will not take place
Usually two negatives make a positive. If reading and speaking a language don't enable you to guarantee that misunderstanding will not take place, then reading and speaking a language does enable you to guarantee that misunderstanding will take place. (I think in this case it doesn't hold true....)
Mjscott made a point about the number of negatives in the sentence, which make it a little confusing - as we see from mjscott's confused response. Actually there are three negatives (counting misunderstanding) so it would perhaps be better phrased as:
"Being able to read and speak a language does not guarantee perfect understanding".
"Being able to read and speak a language does not rule out misunderstandings"
"The ability to read and speak a language is no guarantee against misunderstandings"
OR
"Enabling someone to read and speak a language doesn't guarantee that they will understand everything perfectly."
Other variations are also possible.
"Being able to read and speak a language does not guarantee perfect understanding".
"Being able to read and speak a language does not rule out misunderstandings"
"The ability to read and speak a language is no guarantee against misunderstandings"
OR
"Enabling someone to read and speak a language doesn't guarantee that they will understand everything perfectly."
Other variations are also possible.