Journal of Languages for Specific Purposes (Mar 2019)
ANALYZING THE SIGNIFICANT CONTROVERSIAL FEATURES WITHIN ENGLISH FOR LEGAL PURPOSES (ELP)
Abstract
The present paper will try to analyze some crucial features that can highlight the differences between English for legal purposes (ELP) and General English (GE). It focuses on use of (ELP) as a medium of instruction within practical field of Law. The study will deal with a fact that lawyers are the most eloquent users of English language. Where, on the other hand, they are its notorious abusers. It is because they employ arcane vocabulary within their discourses. The most controversial features that underlie within this field were to be analyzed from different perspectives: (1) its practicability to legal language’s nature (2) semantic interpretations of legal interpretations and (3) perceptual differences over statues of applied and real cases. A language policy program was conducted for this purpose in SM (Sind Muslim) Law College, (Hyderabad) Sind, Pakistan. Its goal was to analyze the particular needs of the legal learners towards their use of English language. After having the discussions with stakeholders, learners, experienced interlocutors and advocates themselves, the researcher, then analyzed some of the case methods (legal books). It was considered a necessary concern to have particular model that should design a conclusive course of integrating the language learning with legal content. This study falls with three major categories in the end for future scholars. (1) Study of Specific English language within legal field. (2) Study of spoken English language within legal settings and (3) Study of written English language of law. However, the main attempt is to explore the third category, focusing on controversial features within written form of legal English language. This study will also help future ESP course designers to visualize the underlying facts that are important in present era. It will not only improve the learning purposes but to strategies for teaching methods. Therefore, it is important to analyze the controversial facts of ELP course.
