7      Legalese and Legal Latin

Legalese

is a term given to the special technical terminology in a legal document.

Technical terminology

is the specialised vocabulary of a profession or of some other activity of a group of people.

TT = jargon = terms of art

          = formal

          = informal (slang)

The problems of using jargon

English legalese in the past = Law French

Typical features:

1.      long and complex sentences with many clauses

2.      Latin expressions, expressions of Latin origin

3.      expressions with different meaning in legal context

4.      use of archaic, old-fashioned words

5.      use of Law French with no meaning for non-lawyers

6.      formal style


7.

Tendencies in current English

the legal historic terms are to be replaced by simple English

plaintiff --- claimant

writ --- claim form

pleading --- statement of case

give leave --- give permission

Be careful !  „False Friends“

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legalese

http://www.worldwidewords.org/articles/probono.htm