Breakdown of De woordvoerder praat namens het bedrijf.
praten
to talk
het bedrijf
the company
de woordvoerder
the spokesperson
namens
on behalf of
Questions & Answers about De woordvoerder praat namens het bedrijf.
Can I use voor instead of namens to say 'for the company'?
You could say praat voor het bedrijf, but namens is much more precise. It specifically means 'in the name of' or 'on behalf of,' which is exactly what a spokesperson does. Voor just means 'for' and could simply mean they are speaking in favor of the company.
Could I use volgens here instead of namens?
If you used volgens, it would change the meaning entirely. Volgens het bedrijf means 'according to the company' (giving them as the source of an opinion or fact). Use namens when someone is officially representing or acting for someone else.
What is the literal translation of woordvoerder?
It literally translates to 'word carrier' or 'word conductor.' It is made up of het woord (the word) and the verb voeren (to carry, to conduct, or to wage). It is the standard Dutch word for a spokesperson.
What happens to the word order if I start the sentence with Namens het bedrijf?
The verb and subject would swap places, which is a rule called inversion. The sentence would become: Namens het bedrijf praat de woordvoerder. Remember that in Dutch, the main verb must almost always stay in the second position of a main clause.