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20. Legal Discourse As An Example Of Domain-Specific Science Communication

  • Ulla Tiililä
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Languages for Special Purposes
This chapter is in the book Languages for Special Purposes

Abstract

This article examines the concept of legal discourse and compares it to various related concepts, particularly legal language. The article begins with a review of previous research on legal discourse and the perspectives raised. Legal discourse encompasses other discourses, while also existing side by side with them. Legal science, e.g., is considered to be just one of the many legal discourses. In many cultures, the key source of legal discourse is written legislation. Other essential sources include the processes that precede and lead to the issuance of provisions as well as the processes of implementing provisions. The article also investigates the varied nature of legal discourse through an intertextual analysis of empirical data. By way of example, the article considers such perspectives as the multifaceted nature of legal discourse, style as an indicator of formality, and legal discourse in administrative decision-making. The examples examined demonstrate that while legal language often triggers the interpretation of legal discourse, the opposite is not necessarily the case: legal discourse is not always manifested as legal language. The article also shows that a wide range of discursive processes underlie texts written in legal language and that the end result should not necessarily be tampered with, say, by changing clause or sentence structures, as is customary for traditional language planning efforts.

Abstract

This article examines the concept of legal discourse and compares it to various related concepts, particularly legal language. The article begins with a review of previous research on legal discourse and the perspectives raised. Legal discourse encompasses other discourses, while also existing side by side with them. Legal science, e.g., is considered to be just one of the many legal discourses. In many cultures, the key source of legal discourse is written legislation. Other essential sources include the processes that precede and lead to the issuance of provisions as well as the processes of implementing provisions. The article also investigates the varied nature of legal discourse through an intertextual analysis of empirical data. By way of example, the article considers such perspectives as the multifaceted nature of legal discourse, style as an indicator of formality, and legal discourse in administrative decision-making. The examples examined demonstrate that while legal language often triggers the interpretation of legal discourse, the opposite is not necessarily the case: legal discourse is not always manifested as legal language. The article also shows that a wide range of discursive processes underlie texts written in legal language and that the end result should not necessarily be tampered with, say, by changing clause or sentence structures, as is customary for traditional language planning efforts.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface V
  3. Contents IX
  4. Part I: Fundamental Aspects
  5. 1.Lsp As Specialised Genres 3
  6. 2.Languages For Special Purposes As Instruments For Communicating Knowledge 26
  7. 3.Lsps As Instruments For Intercultural Communication 45
  8. 4.Lsp Lexicography And Typology Of Specialized Dictionaries 71
  9. 5.Teaching Lsp To Technical Communicators 96
  10. Part II: Lsps In Different Domains And Language Communities
  11. 6.Legal Language 113
  12. 7.Economic Language 151
  13. 9. Lsps In French 209
  14. 10. Finnish For Special Purposes: Terminology Work In Finland 225
  15. 11. Norwegian Lsps 234
  16. 12. Dominance Of Esp In Various Domains In The Context Of Gobal English 255
  17. 13. Gender And Lsp 267
  18. Part III: Corporate And Controlled Communication
  19. 14. Company-Speak, Organisation-Speak 279
  20. 15. Controlled Language 289
  21. 16. Technical Communication And Technical Documentation 307
  22. 17. Instructional Texts – Learn How To Get Things Done 321
  23. Part IV: Science Communication
  24. 18. The Language Of Science – A Systemicfunctional Perspective 345
  25. 19. Oral Discourse In Scientific Research 364
  26. 20. Legal Discourse As An Example Of Domain-Specific Science Communication 381
  27. 21. Lsps As Instruments For Science Communication 406
  28. Part V: Terminology And Multilingual Domain Communication
  29. 22. Term Formation And Neology 437
  30. 23. Terminological Concept Systems 453
  31. 24. Socioterminology 469
  32. 25.Technical Terminology 489
  33. 26. Terminology Work In Different Domains: Legal Terminology 509
  34. 27. Terminology Work In Different Domains: Medical Terminology 522
  35. 28. Terminology Work For Specific Problem Areas And Issues: The Case Of Oil Terminology 535
  36. 29.Legal translation 548
  37. Index 563
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110228014-020

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface V
  3. Contents IX
  4. Part I: Fundamental Aspects
  5. 1.Lsp As Specialised Genres 3
  6. 2.Languages For Special Purposes As Instruments For Communicating Knowledge 26
  7. 3.Lsps As Instruments For Intercultural Communication 45
  8. 4.Lsp Lexicography And Typology Of Specialized Dictionaries 71
  9. 5.Teaching Lsp To Technical Communicators 96
  10. Part II: Lsps In Different Domains And Language Communities
  11. 6.Legal Language 113
  12. 7.Economic Language 151
  13. 9. Lsps In French 209
  14. 10. Finnish For Special Purposes: Terminology Work In Finland 225
  15. 11. Norwegian Lsps 234
  16. 12. Dominance Of Esp In Various Domains In The Context Of Gobal English 255
  17. 13. Gender And Lsp 267
  18. Part III: Corporate And Controlled Communication
  19. 14. Company-Speak, Organisation-Speak 279
  20. 15. Controlled Language 289
  21. 16. Technical Communication And Technical Documentation 307
  22. 17. Instructional Texts – Learn How To Get Things Done 321
  23. Part IV: Science Communication
  24. 18. The Language Of Science – A Systemicfunctional Perspective 345
  25. 19. Oral Discourse In Scientific Research 364
  26. 20. Legal Discourse As An Example Of Domain-Specific Science Communication 381
  27. 21. Lsps As Instruments For Science Communication 406
  28. Part V: Terminology And Multilingual Domain Communication
  29. 22. Term Formation And Neology 437
  30. 23. Terminological Concept Systems 453
  31. 24. Socioterminology 469
  32. 25.Technical Terminology 489
  33. 26. Terminology Work In Different Domains: Legal Terminology 509
  34. 27. Terminology Work In Different Domains: Medical Terminology 522
  35. 28. Terminology Work For Specific Problem Areas And Issues: The Case Of Oil Terminology 535
  36. 29.Legal translation 548
  37. Index 563
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