4 ms·
Legalese is the equivalent of scientific Latin (heck it's often literally Latin). The point is that if you make a distinct dialect then you can build precedent
by psychphysic 4y ago
Legalese is the equivalent of scientific Latin (heck it's often literally Latin).
The point is that if you make a distinct dialect then you can build precedent.
If you write in casual English you get situations where two people disagree on the meaning of a contract they both signed and the writer can't say well I used the phrase "hullabaloo" because the court decided that previously it means "ruckus" but not necessarily "drunk".
- drewcoo 4y ago> The point is that if you make a distinct dialect then you can build precedent Science is not built on precedent but on facts. Or one might even argue it's fashion with fact-based influences. Many problems of our legal system stem from relying on precedent and not facts. But none of those are attributable to terminology. > well I used the phrase "hullabaloo" because the court decided that previously it means "ruckus" but not necessarily "drunk" Your examples of unclear language would not be a problem, at least in California, according to the article because those words and phrases are not mutually understood. I think a bigger problem with "mutually understood" is that words and their meanings change. And we often don't agree on definitions. Dictionaries describe use. Literally now means figuratively. Dogs and cats are sleeping together.
- xboxnolifes 4y agoLaw is not science. There is nothing to test or discover. It is a declarative set of statements.
- psychphysic 4y agoIrrelevant
- rileymat2 4y agoThis is an interesting comment from a perspective of imprecise language, because the legal system uses the words "test" and "discover" frequently, but in a different meaning than yours.
- andrekandre 4y agowhat is the meaning of "test" and "discover? in a legal system context?
- psychphysic 4y agoYou're completely missing the reasoning by such a wide margin I can only assume it's intentional. Ironically one of the top links on HN now is about good faith discussion.