Communicative-pragmatic and grammatical aspects of linguistic means in judicial discourse as an example of legal argumentation

Abstract

This article outlines main aspects of studying verbal and non-verbal language means on the basis of English speaking speeches during the court proceedings. Common features of argumentative discourse and functioning of the inter discourse within the legal language have been viewed in the article. This study has been done on the basis of modern communicative and pragmatic lingvocognitive paradigms that give opportunities to trace the formation of grammatical legal texts, to define the specific legal discourse structure, to analyze the impact of pragmatic text on its linguistic structure. The most representative in terms of impact and implementation of such argumentation in legal discourse is pleading. Speeches of famous lawyers are considered to be the main mode of judicial discourse, because of its being a single, integrated system of reasoning. The behavior of the lawyer with the introductive and concluding remarks during the trial by jury determines the choice of certain strategies of communicative impact on the recipients - an appeal to reason and appeal to the emotions and among them scientists also differentiate appropriate tactics. But still language peculiarities during the trial are no less important example of legal reasoning. With specific and well-used grammar trial participants (mostly defense attorneys) are able to convince and convey the information they need no worse (and in some cases better) than through above-mentioned appeals.

Keywords

• аргументатація
• судовий дискурс
• апеляції
• граматичні засоби