Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2011 July 28

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July 28

"Legal"

"Legal" can mean two things: pertaining to the law, or allowed by the law. How can one know which meaning is intended, other than inferring from context? JIP | Talk 17:28, 28 July 2011 (UTC)

One can't. Perhaps you could give the example you have in mind? μηδείς (talk) 18:11, 28 July 2011 (UTC)

An anonymous user's comment on Wikipedia:Reference desk/Miscellaneous#WBC and the Norway attacks:

I have no disagreement with this characterisation of their version of Christianity (to which I, too, do not adhere). In addition, however, some have put forward evidence and arguments to suggest that, aside from their religious beliefs, the family at the centre of the WBC are primarily engaging in a deliberate legal strategy, in which by being outrageously but legally provocative, they goad their targets into understandable but illegal retaliation, and then profit from sueing them. More specific details can doubtless be found via the usual search engines.

Does "legal strategy" mean "strategy pertaining to the law" or "strategy allowed by the law"? JIP | Talk 18:15, 28 July 2011 (UTC)

Definitely strategy pertaining to legal goals in this case. μηδείς (talk) 18:23, 28 July 2011 (UTC)

Pertaining. Well, that's what I feel is obvious from the context. It's hard for me to imagine an example where a real ambiguity would exist (but then, I didn't try too hard). No such user (talk) 18:25, 28 July 2011 (UTC)

I can see how confusion might arise here from the fact that they are trying to get their opponents to do something illegal. The word illegally in "outrageously but legally provocative" does have the sense not violating the law. But a little critical thought makes it clear the word is being used in the two different senses JIP identified. μηδείς (talk) 18:48, 28 July 2011 (UTC)

In addition, the fact that 'legal' here is not a simple adjective meaning 'allowed by the law' is verified by the fact there is another adjective directly ('deliberate') before it. Had the word 'legal' here meant 'allowed by law', the phrasing would have been 'deliberate and legal strategy' (or even 'deliberately legal strategy', with a slightly different shade of meaning). --KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 21:53, 28 July 2011 (UTC)

Concur. μηδείς (talk) 21:58, 28 July 2011 (UTC)

(ZH) Eslite Bookstore headquarters?

Where are the headquarters of Eslite Bookstore? I tried searching the website, and am encountering difficulty on finding what states where the chain's HQ is

I put it in the language section since I need help from a Chinese speaker.

Thanks WhisperToMe (talk) 21:01, 28 July 2011 (UTC)

According to the zh article, it's 台湾 台北市信义区松德路196号地下一楼. The source might be this. Oda Mari (talk) 11:02, 29 July 2011 (UTC)

Thank you very much, Mari! WhisperToMe (talk) 00:21, 3 August 2011 (UTC)