Deciding Legal Meaning

• Published in: Language and Law
• Main Authors: Durant, Alan, Leung, Janny H.C
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2016
• Subjects: Book Industry Communication; Criminology: legal aspects; English for law; English for specific purposes law; forensic linguistics; Jurisprudence & general issues; Jurisprudence and general issues; Language; Language and Linguistics; language and the law; Language: reference & general; Language: reference and general; Law; Legal aspects of criminology; legal English; legal genres; Legal skills & practice; Legal skills and practice; linguistics; Sociolinguistics; Textbook
• ISBN: 9781315436258; 9781138025578; 1315436256; 1138025577; 1138025585; 9781138025585
• DOI: 10.4324/9781315436258-29

Language plays an essential role both in creating law and in governing its implementation. Providing an accessible and comprehensive introduction to this subject, Language and Law:describes the different registers and genres that make up spoken and written legal language and how they develop over time; analyses real-life examples drawn from court cases from different parts of the world, illustrating the varieties of English used in the courtroom by speakers occupying different roles; addresses the challenges presented to our notions of law and regulation by online communication; discusses the complex role of translation in bilingual and multilingual jurisdictions, including Hong Kong and Canada; and provides readings from key scholars in the discipline, including Lawrence Solan, Peter Goodrich, Marianne Constable, David Mellinkoff, and Chris Heffer. With a wide range of activities throughout, this accessible textbook is essential reading for anyone studying language and law or forensic linguistics.