This paper deals with a specific English language – the legal language. I will focus on a particular aspect of this field - the characteristics of the structure of legal English. Therefore I will give an overview of the central structural features which are typical for legal language. Legal professionals strive for a precise explanation of facts.
This aim forces them to use a certain kind of language patterns; including a high amount of definitions in legal texts, as well as numerous complex and ancient phrases deriving from Law French and plentiful enumerations which can all together form a single sentence covering several lines. Considering these special language patterns, the field of law, especially the legal language, becomes completely unapproachable for laymen, as it is almost impossible for them to follow legal discourse or understand legal contracts as well as laws and provisions. Even well-educated native speakers often find it hard to understand the language used in court. But the access to one’s rights and duties is important in a community, so I decided to emphasize the differences between legal language and colloquial language and to show which structural features are characteristic for legal language.
At first I will provide the reader with an overall definition of English as a special language, before I will have a closer look at legal English as a special language – the main topic of this essay. To show the structural features of legal language I will concentrate on three main characteristics in the structure of legal language – in my opinion the three most important ones, even though there are other important attributes as well. In a last step I will point out how these legal structures are used in real life. Therefore I will analyze a contract as well as a legislative text and think about ways to simplify the legal language used there to make it easier to follow such texts.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. English as a special language
- a. Definition
- b. Legal English as a special language
- 3. Structural features of English legal language
- a. Complex sentences
- b. Passive style
- c. Impersonal constructions
- 4. Analysis of legal documents
- a. Contract
- b. Legislative text
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to explore the structural characteristics of legal English, highlighting its differences from colloquial English. It examines how these structural features contribute to the complexity and often inaccessibility of legal texts for non-experts. The analysis focuses on identifying and explaining key structural elements within legal language, demonstrating their application in real-life legal documents.
- Definition and characteristics of special languages, particularly legal English.
- Analysis of key structural features in legal English (complex sentences, passive voice, impersonal constructions).
- Comparison of legal English with colloquial English.
- Examination of structural features in real-life legal documents (contracts and legislative texts).
- Discussion of potential methods to simplify legal language for improved comprehension.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by defining its scope and objectives. The author introduces the central theme of legal English as a specialized language, emphasizing its structural complexity and the resulting challenges for understanding legal texts. The introduction highlights the importance of accessibility to legal information and the need to understand the linguistic nuances that make legal language unique.
2. English as a special language: This chapter delves into the definition of "special language" or "language for special purposes," establishing the context within which legal English operates. It differentiates special languages from general or colloquial language, outlining characteristics such as specialized vocabulary and usage patterns understood primarily by experts within the field. The chapter then specifically addresses Legal English, its historical roots in Law French, and its divergence from standard English.
3. Structural features of English legal language: This chapter focuses on three main structural characteristics of legal English: complex sentences, passive style, and impersonal constructions. Each feature is analyzed in detail, illustrating how they contribute to the precision and formality of legal language. Examples are given of how these structures manifest in legal writing, showcasing their impact on the overall clarity and understandability (or lack thereof) for non-legal professionals.
4. Analysis of legal documents: This chapter applies the previously discussed structural features to real-life examples of legal documents: contracts and legislative texts. The analysis shows how the identified structural characteristics function in actual legal documents, furthering the understanding of how these features contribute to the overall complexity and style of legal writing. The author likely provides concrete examples from analyzed contracts and legislative texts to illustrate the points made in the preceding chapters.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Legal English, special language, legal language, structural features, complex sentences, passive voice, impersonal constructions, legal documents, contracts, legislative texts, accessibility, clarity, comprehension.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Legal English
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper explores the structural characteristics of Legal English, highlighting its differences from colloquial English and the resulting challenges for non-experts in understanding legal texts. It focuses on analyzing key structural elements like complex sentences, passive voice, and impersonal constructions, and how these contribute to the complexity and often inaccessibility of legal documents.
What are the objectives of this paper?
The paper aims to define and characterize Legal English as a special language, analyze its key structural features, compare it to colloquial English, examine these features in real-life legal documents (contracts and legislative texts), and discuss potential methods for simplifying legal language to improve comprehension.
What are the key structural features of Legal English discussed in the paper?
The paper focuses on three main structural features: complex sentences, passive voice, and impersonal constructions. It analyzes how each contributes to the precision and formality of legal language, and provides examples of their use in legal writing.
What types of legal documents are analyzed in the paper?
The paper analyzes real-life examples of contracts and legislative texts to demonstrate how the identified structural features function in actual legal documents.
What is the significance of the analysis of legal documents?
The analysis of real-life legal documents reinforces the understanding of how the structural features contribute to the overall complexity and style of legal writing, illustrating the impact on clarity and understandability for non-legal professionals.
What are the key takeaways regarding the accessibility of Legal English?
The paper highlights the challenges in accessing and understanding legal information due to the complexities of Legal English. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the linguistic nuances that make legal language unique and potentially inaccessible to non-experts.
What is the definition of "special language" as it relates to this paper?
The paper defines "special language" or "language for special purposes" and contrasts it with general or colloquial language. It outlines characteristics such as specialized vocabulary and usage patterns primarily understood by experts within a specific field, like Legal English.
What is the significance of Legal English's historical roots?
The paper touches upon the historical roots of Legal English, likely referencing its origins in Law French and its subsequent divergence from standard English. This historical context helps explain the unique characteristics of Legal English.
What keywords describe the content of this paper?
Keywords include: Legal English, special language, legal language, structural features, complex sentences, passive voice, impersonal constructions, legal documents, contracts, legislative texts, accessibility, clarity, comprehension.
What is included in the "Table of Contents"?
The Table of Contents includes an introduction, a section on English as a special language (including a definition and the specifics of Legal English), a section on the structural features of Legal English (complex sentences, passive style, and impersonal constructions), and a section analyzing legal documents (contracts and legislative texts).
- Arbeit zitieren
- Marit Blömer (Autor:in), 2012, Structural Features of Legal Language, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/303240
