book notice: Language, Meaning and the Law: Hutton

[Harold Schiffman]

Language, Meaning and the Law: Hutton


Title: Language, Meaning and the Law
Published: 2009
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
                http://www.eup.ed.ac.uk/

Book URL: http://www.euppublishing.com/book/9780748633517

Author: Christopher Hutton
Abstract:

'Language, Meaning and the Law' offers an accessible, critical guide to
debates about linguistic meaning and interpretation in relation to legal
language. Law is an ideal domain for considering fundamental questions
relating to how we assign meanings to words, understand and comment on
texts, and deal with socially and ideologically significant questions of
interpretation. The book argues that theoretical issues of concern to
linguists, philosophers, literary theorists and others are illuminated by
the demands of the legal context, since law is driven by the need for
practical solutions and for determinate outcomes based on explicit
reasoning. Topics covered include: the relationship of linguistics to legal
theory, indeterminacy and statutory interpretation, the theory and practice
of using dictionaries in law, defamation and language in the public sphere,
and the distinction between perjury and deception.

This book does not assume specialist knowledge of the field, and is
designed as a self-contained, advanced introduction to a fascinating area
of study. The reader will gain an overall insight into issues and debates
about meaning and interpretation, as well as an understanding of how these
questions are shaped by the legal context.

Key Features
* Concise introduction to the study of linguistic meaning and its role
within legal theory
* Exercises and materials for classroom discussion, workshops etc.
* Guide to further reading.

Customers in North America, please contact Columbia University Press.

Linguistic Field(s): Forensic Linguistics
                            Pragmatics
                            Semantics

Written In: English (eng )

See this book announcement on our website:
http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=39041

http://linguistlist.org/issues/20/20-301.html

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