the subject of "considered"

[unpakwon]

What is the subject of "considered" in the following, iPhone or Chinese labor?

The iPhone assembled in China, for example, wholesales at about $180. While considered a Chinese export, Chinese labor accounts for only about $6.50 of its cost.

Thank you.

 

[tedmc]

The subject is iPhone obviously (you can also argue that it refers to Chinese labour) but it would be clearer to write : While it is considered a Chinese product ...

not a teacher

 

[Barb_D]

It's a dangling modifier.
The iPhone is considered a Chinese export, but only about...

 

[tedmc]

The dangling modifier is removed by rewriting the sentences:

The iPhone assembled in China, for example, wholesales at about $180 and is considered a Chinese export. However, Chinese labor accounts for only about $6.50 of its cost.

not a teacher

 

[Matthew Wai]

(you can also argue that it refers to Chinese labour)

As the products were assembled by Chinese labor in China, how can one consider the labor an export, which should refer to 'a product that is sold to another country' according to http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/export_1

Not a teacher.

 

[tedmc]

As the products were assembled by Chinese labor in China, how can one consider the labor an export, which should refer to 'a product that is sold to another country' according to http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/export_1

Not a teacher.

We are talking about sentence structure here, not about the logic.
If there are better ways to construct the same sentences, why not?

not a teacher

 

[Matthew Wai]

We are talking about sentence structure here, not about the logic.

Logic can help unravel an ambiguous sentence structure.

If there are better ways to construct the same sentences, why not?

I agree.

Not a teacher.

 

[tedmc]

Logic can help unravel an ambiguous sentence structure.

Not a teacher.

It doesn't change the fact that it is a dangling modifier.

not a teacher

 

[Matthew Wai]

The fact is that the dangling modifier is not confusing due to the logic.

Not a teacher.

 

[lotus888]

Depending on what came before, I would put "for example" at the beginning.

For example; the iPhone, which is assembled in China, wholesales for about $180. While the iPhone is considered a Chinese export, Chinese labor accounts for only about $6.50 of its cost.


In my view, a product is considered an import if it is not "made in the U.S.A." That includes products which are manufactured and assembled in another country and shipped to the U.S. My Levi's pants were designed by Levi Strauss and Company and manufactured in Egypt. Yes, Egypt. To me, they are imported pants. Yes, that iPhone is an imported product. Even Apple will not put "Made in U.S.A." on the iPhone or the iPad.

Imported does not necessarily mean it has to be "sold" from the importing country. I bought my 2002 Toyota Camry in the U.S. But, it was manufactured and imported from Japan. I know this because it has a "J" at the front of the serial number. BTW, it has never broken down on the road and drives about the same as the day I bought it. (The MPG is a little lower though.)
http://www.wordsmyth.net/?ent=import


-lotus

 

[Raymott]

As written, grammatically the subject is 'labour'. The intended subject appears to be the iPhone.

 

[tedmc]

The fact is that the dangling modifier is not confusing due to the logic.

Not a teacher.

You don't justify a badly constructed sentence with logic. You reconstruct the sentence to avoid any ambiguity.

not a teacher

 

[Raymott]

What if it's not your sentence? You would have to consider the most likely intended meaning in order to reconstruct it. And then, although it is no longer ambiguous, it might not express the author's intent.

 

[tedmc]

The ambiguity is the subject of the sentence as intended versus that as implied in the writing, which is the purpose of rewriting the sentence.

not a teacher