Posted by BJ
While traveling recently I cam upon a sign that read, “We buy cars. Run or No Run. Give you much money.”
As I suspect would be the case for many of you, this immediately struck me as very incorrect language. Obviously, it should have read, “Whether the car is running or not” or something along those lines.
But then I gave this some thought. This sign was posted in an economically challenged area* and one in which the majority of people spoke little to no English. In all probability, using proper English would have resulted in the intended audience not understanding what was being offered.
So, while it might make any of us cringe to read such a sign, it is an excellent example of writing the intended audience.
*No Jon, I wasn’t hanging out in this part of town. I was passing through, having taken detour to bypass a congested highway.
While traveling recently I cam upon a sign that read, “We buy cars. Run or No Run. Give you much money.”
As I suspect would be the case for many of you, this immediately struck me as very incorrect language. Obviously, it should have read, “Whether the car is running or not” or something along those lines.
But then I gave this some thought. This sign was posted in an economically challenged area* and one in which the majority of people spoke little to no English. In all probability, using proper English would have resulted in the intended audience not understanding what was being offered.
So, while it might make any of us cringe to read such a sign, it is an excellent example of writing the intended audience.
*No Jon, I wasn’t hanging out in this part of town. I was passing through, having taken detour to bypass a congested highway.
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