[bmiller]

Judging by the responses here, Bosun was not the only one confused by the differences between hope and wish.

Hope does have the meaning of 'want'.

Grammatically, after we use 'I hope' we often use a present tense with a future meaning...

I hope she likes (=will like) the flowers.
I hope the bus comes soon.

This is similar to the use of 'I bet', but with 'I hope' the speaker does not have any certainty that the future result will occur, just the desire.

Wish can also have the meaning of 'want.' for example when we use wish + an infinitive, but this is very formal.

EX: I wish to see the manager, please. (NOTE; We cannot use present continuous, "*I'm wishing to see the manager.")

An object + infinitive structure is also possible to mean want.

We do not wish our names to appear in public. (Note; wish + direct object is NOT normally possible. ex: *I wish an appointment with the manager.)

When we use wish with a that clause (we can drop the that in informal speech) wish does NOT mean want, but expresses regret that things are not different, and refers to situations that are unreal, impossible or unlikely.

I wish (that) I was better looking.
Don't you wish (that) you could fly?

Wish + that clause is NOT generally used for wishes about things that seem possible in the future. In these cases we usually use hope.

I hope you pass your exams. NOT (I wish you would pass your exams.)
I hope you feel better tomorrow. NOT (I wish you felt better tomorrow.)

I hope this helps (and I have confidence it will)
I wish that you will become a fluent speaker in 2008 (although I doubt that anyone can become fluent in just one year!!)