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 around the world, showing the varieties of language used in the courtroom by speakers fulfilling different roles; addresses the challenges presented to our notions of law and regulation by new forms of 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 Melinkoff, and Chris Heffer.
With a wide range of activities throughout, this accessible textbook is essential reading for any student studying language and law or forensic linguistics.
Alan Durant is the author of books for a wide age-range, from picture books such as Burger Boy to top-end teenage thrillers (Blood, Flesh and Bones). Having worked as a copywriter at Walker Books, he is now a full-time author.
He's married, with three children and lives just outside London. He does a lot of school visits throughout the UK and abroad and also runs writing workshops.