Chapter 8. Interpersonality in legal written discourse
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Paula Rodríguez-Puente
Abstract
This chapter offers a diachronic analysis of the use of personal pronouns in English law reports. Results show that law reports are narrative texts with high frequencies of third person pronouns. However, markers of subjectivity, involvement and interpersonality, such as first and second person pronouns, are also amply represented–a feature which distinguishes law reports from other formal, specialized text types, as well as from other legal documents. In addition, law reports seem to have developed over time, becoming more involved, subjective and interpersonal, a tendency that coincides with a major change in the history of law reporting in English.
Abstract
This chapter offers a diachronic analysis of the use of personal pronouns in English law reports. Results show that law reports are narrative texts with high frequencies of third person pronouns. However, markers of subjectivity, involvement and interpersonality, such as first and second person pronouns, are also amply represented–a feature which distinguishes law reports from other formal, specialized text types, as well as from other legal documents. In addition, law reports seem to have developed over time, becoming more involved, subjective and interpersonal, a tendency that coincides with a major change in the history of law reporting in English.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Chapter 1. “Why may not that be the skull of a lawyer?” English legal discourse past and present 1
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Part I. Cross-genre and cross-linguistic variation
- Chapter 2. English and Italian land contracts 25
- Chapter 3. Conditionals in spoken courtroom and parliamentary discourse in English, French, and Spanish 51
- Chapter 4. Part-of-speech patterns in legal genres 79
- Chapter 5. A comparison of lexical bundles in spoken courtroom language across time, registers, and varieties 105
- Chapter 6. “It is not just a fact that the law requires this, but it is a reasonable fact” 123
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Part II. Diachronic variation
- Chapter 7. Are law reports an ‘agile’ or an ‘uptight’ register? 149
- Chapter 8. Interpersonality in legal written discourse 171
- Chapter 9. The evolution of a legal genre 201
- Chapter 10. The representation of citizens and monarchy in Acts of Parliament in 1800 to 2000 235
- Chapter 11. Drinking and crime 261
- Name index 287
- Subject index 291
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Chapter 1. “Why may not that be the skull of a lawyer?” English legal discourse past and present 1
-
Part I. Cross-genre and cross-linguistic variation
- Chapter 2. English and Italian land contracts 25
- Chapter 3. Conditionals in spoken courtroom and parliamentary discourse in English, French, and Spanish 51
- Chapter 4. Part-of-speech patterns in legal genres 79
- Chapter 5. A comparison of lexical bundles in spoken courtroom language across time, registers, and varieties 105
- Chapter 6. “It is not just a fact that the law requires this, but it is a reasonable fact” 123
-
Part II. Diachronic variation
- Chapter 7. Are law reports an ‘agile’ or an ‘uptight’ register? 149
- Chapter 8. Interpersonality in legal written discourse 171
- Chapter 9. The evolution of a legal genre 201
- Chapter 10. The representation of citizens and monarchy in Acts of Parliament in 1800 to 2000 235
- Chapter 11. Drinking and crime 261
- Name index 287
- Subject index 291
