Lecture 1 The Domain of Legal Discourse: Characteristics of Legal Language

The crucial importance of the language of the law in the modern society is undeniable as through it the complex legal mechanism is set in motion. Legal terminology and phraseology is a major concern for all those who deal with legal language but especially for the legal translator as (s) he must bring to a common level, two or more legal systems which are sometimes particularly diverse and culture-bound.

Legal language means language of legal acts, legislation and legal deeds. The actual law is formulated in this language. All legal texts are drafted in legal language. Legal language is made up of several genres, each with its own specific, if often related, characteristics. It ranges from the spoken exchanges in a court between, say, lawyers and witnesses in a cross-examination, to the relatively standardized instructions given to jury members who are required to express a verdict in a court case, to the jargon employed by members of the legal profession in interpersonal communication, to the written language in case law, law reports and prescriptive legal texts.

English is the predominant language of international business, and has a significant role as a legal language within the European Union. Legal English is now a global phenomenon. It is the style of English used by lawyers and other legal professionals in the course of their work.

Legal discourse is a highly specialized use of language requiring a special set of habits. It refers to the acts of communication used in the practice of law. In law, communication is essential because it bridges the barriers between client and lawyer, lawyer and lawyer, and judge and lawyer. Thus, in legal discourse, certain terminologies are often used. Its principal basis is the theory of law, because it is meant to aid legal players in their day-to-day communication relating to law.

Obviously, translating legal texts requires painstaking attention to detail and sensitivity to the consequences of subtle contextual changes. Translating legal texts requires painstaking attention to detail and sensitivity to the consequences of subtle contextual changes. This kind of writing is such a departure from our everyday use of language that it is worthwhile to consider some of the specific characteristics of legal language which the translator should keep in mind.

The leading features of legal English Lexical features

1. Inclusion of foreign words and expressions, especially of Latin and French origin

English legal language is heavily imbued with lexical items deriving in particular from French and Latin, largely the result of centuries of Norman domination of England in the sphere of law and government. Besides the vast number of terms of Norman origin still used daily in legal English (e.g. court, judge, appeal, profit; lien (право затримання майна до сплати боргу), on parole (на режимі умовно-дострокового звільнення під чесне слово)), many are now practically unknown outside legal circles, e.g. attainder (the loss of civil rights through conviction for high treason (присуд до смерті (до вигнання) з позбавленням громадянських прав)) за державну зраду), but such terms have nonetheless become ‘naturalized’ as English words. Other expressions have preserved all of their Frenchness, such as profits à prendre (право на дохід від експлуатації землі, що належить іншій особі), also known as the right of common, where one has the right to take the fruits of the property of another. A French expression used in contemporary legal English is acquis communautaire (правова система ЄС), which refers to the entire body of EU law.

French influence reflects not only in the words of French origin (appeal, attorney, claim, complaint, counsel, court, damage, default, defendant, demurrer, evidence, indictment, judge, jury, justice, party, plaintiff, plea, sentence, sue, verdict), but also in the use of adjectives standing behind the nouns which they modify in phrases such as, attorney general, court martial, fee simple absolute, letters testamentary, malice aforethought, solicitor general).

One of many noticeable features of English legal lexicon is the existence of Latinisms (Latin terms) in its terminology. Alcaraz & Brian  link the presence of such terms to certain reasons; we briefly consider them. In the first place, it was inevitable for English law to escape the influence of Latin which was supported by the power of the Roman church over Europe at that time, and also to its widespread use throughout this place of earth as a language of learning and literature. In addition to the incredible power of the Roman law which was a coherent written system, and had strength of an institution over a considerable area of Europe. Here are some Latin phrases and words in common use:

- Bona fide (good faith or in good faith) 1) добросовісний, сумлінний, чесний, справедливий; справжній;

2) чесно, сумлінно, добросовісно, без обману;

bona fide purchaser добросовісний покупець (в т. ч. краденого)

- Actus reus (guilty act) винне діяння

Alibi (elsewhere; the fact or state of having алібі (часткове виправдання,

been elsewhere when an offence was committed) відсутність підозрюваного (обвинуваченого) на місці вчинення злочину в момент його вчинення)

versus проти

pro se лат. за себе

act pro se діяти від власного імені

appear pro se виступати без захисника

obiter dictum неофіційна думка судді

res judicata вирішена справа, судовий прецедент, рес юдиката

prima facie (at first sight) в порядку спростовної презумпції; за відсутністю доказів на користь зворотного; початково; судячи з наявних доказів (даних); якщо відсутній інший намір

prima facie evidence доказ, достатній за відсутності спростування

In some cases English makes use indistinctly of either the original Latin phrase or a calque, e.g. onus probandi / burden of proof (тягар доведення); mors civilis / civil death (громадянська смерть, позбавлення всіх громадянських прав)