Learn English – How to reinterpret this complex sentence that starts with “A person who agrees to serve as a mediator…”

sentence-structure

A person who agrees to serve as a mediator between two warring
factions at the request of both abandons by so agreeing the right to
take sides later.

Does this sentence mean:

A person who agrees to serve as a mediator between two warring
factions (at the request of both) abandons the right to take sides
later.

If this is the case why is there a "by so agreeing"?

Or does this sentence mean:

A person who agrees to serve as a mediator between two warring
factions at the request of both, by agreeing so, abandons the right to
take sides later.

If this is the case, why should it be "by so agreeing"?

Is there any grammar reference for this kind of sentence structure? Could someone come up with similar examples, please? This sentence really confused me at first; I thought it meant:

A person agrees to serve as a mediator between two warring factions,
at the request of both abandons, by so, agreeing the right to take
sides later. (A mediator agrees to take the role by agreeing he can take one side later…)

Best Answer

The sentence has a lot of qualifications which make it look more complicated than it really is.

The core is:

  • A person abandons the right to take sides later.

What kind of person?

  • A person who agrees to mediate between two parties

Any person who agrees to mediate between them?

  • No—only a person who is asked to mediate by both parties

Does the person have to explicitly give up the right?

  • No—the person gives up the right by so agreeing—that is, by the very act of agreeing to mediate.

A mediator is presumed to be a neutral party, and must maintain her neutrality after the mediation is over so that it cannot be called into question.

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