Please read and annotate the articles I gave you on legal language, basically picking out the main features.
Then, go to the wikipedia page on 'Legal English'. Make notes on the historical development and key features.
Then, draw up a list of the main features of both plain and legal. For example:
Plain
Use Active verbs
Legal
Often uses passive verbs
Then (remember you have some weeks to do this!), read and annotate the following Tax document and pick out the key features and examples of Legal Langauge. Write 2 P-E-E paragaraphs on this question: What are the key features of legal language in this text and why do you think they are used?
Part 1
THE CHARGE TO TAX
Income tax
4.-(1) Any provision of the Income Tax Acts requiring, permitting or assuming the deduction of income tax from any amount (otherwise than in pursuance of section 203) or treating income tax as having been deducted from or paid on any amount shall, subject to any provision to the contrary, be construed as referring to deduction or payment of income tax at the basic rate in force of the relevant year of assessment.
2) For the purposes of subsection (1) above, the relevant year of assessment shall be taken to be (except where otherwise provided) –
a) if the amount is an amount payable wholly out of profits or gains brought into charge to tax, the year in which the amount becomes due;
b) in any other case, the year in which the amount is paid.
From the Taxes Act ‘Income Tax…’
