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Somebody "have (got) no place doing something"
It had to be this thing where psychologically (...) they had this thing where,
Apr 3, 2013 10:12
11 yrs ago
English term

to a view across Sydney Harbour at...

English Other Tourism & Travel
This stage follows Lavender Bay to a view across Sydney Harbour at the famous Sydney Opera House.

No more context.

Does it mean "to see Sydney Harbour from Sydney Opera House"? Or "to see Sydney Opera House from Sydney Harbour"?
Responses
4 +3 ..see eexplanation
4 +1 to see harbour from Opera House

Discussion

Ana Juliá (asker) Apr 5, 2013:
Thank you! .
Anna Herbst Apr 4, 2013:
Local knowledge helps when prepositions fail I do agree that the English is linguistically ambiguous, however, with some local knowledge of the area, there is no ambiguity as to the intended meaning. Take a look at this googled picture taken from Lavender Bay across Sydney Harbour towards the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House in the background, and you will see what I mean. http://www.flickr.com/photos/johncowper/8554441236/
Tina Vonhof (X) Apr 3, 2013:
That was my first impression: look across the harbour at (towards) the opera house.
Charles Davis Apr 3, 2013:
I have to say, though, that until I looked at the map I assumed it meant a view from the Opera House, and until you look at the map you can't be sure (unless you know Sydney, I suppose).
David Moore (X) Apr 3, 2013:
Well put, Tony This is badly written, so one daren't agree with either view - could they BOTH be wrong? Only kidding; you must ask the client in this case.
Charles Davis Apr 3, 2013:
Yes, of course you can, and the English certainly is ambiguous, but the text says that this stage (of a tour or itinerary, presumably) follows Lavender Bay to a view, and that must mean a view from a point in Lavender Bay, on the north side, the opposite side from the Opera House.
Yvonne Gallagher Apr 3, 2013:
yes, but you can also see right across the harbour FROM the Opera House (in fact you can see more of the harbour from there since it's on a promontory jutting out into the bay...but the English is ambiguous
Charles Davis Apr 3, 2013:
If we're following Lavender Bay we're on the north side of Sydney Harbour, and the Opera House is on the south side, so we're looking at the Opera House, not from it.
Sheila Wilson Apr 3, 2013:
The map below, OTOH, is quite clear: there's a viewpoint on Lavender Bay from where you can see right across the harbour to the Opera House. Get those cameras out!
Tony M Apr 3, 2013:
@ Sheila Quite — that's exactly my point: since the way this is written doesn't correspond to either of the two 'normal' options, it leaves it wide open to ambiguity...
Sheila Wilson Apr 3, 2013:
@ Tony I'm not sure you can go by what we'd normally say here. It isn't a normal sentence so it's anybody's guess what the writer meant.
Sheila Wilson Apr 3, 2013:
To a viewpoint I thought it meant it takes you to a point where you can look across the harbour to the Opera House. Then I read it again and I'm not so sure. I think you may need a map for this one!
Tony M Apr 3, 2013:
On the face of it, neither! The EN sounds decidely odd to me!

I suspect it must mean your first suggestion, though as you say, we would normally say 'from', not 'at'. "The view across the harbour that you see when standing at the..."

I can't see the second option makes much sense; again, we would more normally say 'to' instead of 'at' if this were the intended meaning.

However, as always in cases of such ambiguity, I feel you would be best advised to check directly with the source.

Responses

+3
7 mins
Selected

..see eexplanation

From one point of the stage at Lavanders Bay you can see Sydney Opera House but you need to look over Sydney Harbour to see it.

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Note added at 38 mins (2013-04-03 10:51:29 GMT)
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https://maps.google.hr/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=lave...
Peer comment(s):
agree Tony M : Now others have done the research, it certainly seems this is the intended meaning. The writer seems to have confused 'view looking at' with 'view towards'
2 hrs
Thank you!
agree Charles Davis : As Tony says, they must mean a view "at" (towards) the Opera House from Lavender Bay on the other side of the harbour, but it is badly expressed.
3 hrs
Thank you!
agree Anna Herbst : The Opera House is indeed across the harbour from Lavender Bay, so you will have a view of it across the harbour from there. Read "of" rather than "at" in the original sentence. http://www.flickr.com/photos/johncowper/8554441236/
14 hrs
Thank you!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you all for your help!"
+1
5 mins

to see harbour from Opera House

the way I read it

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Note added at 7 mins (2013-04-03 10:20:12 GMT)
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quite a nice view of the entire harbour from the Opera House. Was just looking at photos of this yesterday on my niece's Facebook page

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Note added at 21 mins (2013-04-03 10:34:44 GMT)
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here is a map of the entire bay area. Many photos of the harbour bridge and Opera House would be taken from Lavender Bay but there are also view of the entire harbour from the Opera House so really, Tony is right. You may need to check with client as to which is intended.

Opera House is #1 here opposite Lavender Bay

http://www.aviewoncities.com/maps/sydney.htm
Peer comment(s):
agree AllegroTrans
2 hrs
Thanks AT!
agree Oliver Lawrence : seems most likely; but as others have said, the English is a little odd
2 hrs
Thanks Oliver, yes, it is a bit ambiguous
disagree Anna Herbst : If you are at Lavender Bay and look across the harbour you will see the Opera House on the opposite side. Change "at" to "of" in the original sentence and it all makes sense, even if you are not familiar with Sydney.
14 hrs
I clearly said that the Opera House is across from Lavender Bay (and supplied a map!). There is really no need for a disagree as the English, as written, is ambiguous, as agreed by most native speakers here.
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