Want to celebrate English Language Day?
Here are some ideas that you could try at home or at work
On 13 October 1362 the Chancellor of England for the first time opened Parliament with a speech in English. In that same Parliament, a Statute of Pleading was approved that permitted members in debate to use the English language. English had become again an official language of law and law-making. In recognition of this important event in the unfolding story of English, the theme of the inaugural English Language Day is the language of law in its widest sense.
And here are some ideas from The English Project to get you started. They can be enjoyed either individually or with others, at home or at work!
Legal words
Try the English Language Day survey and compare your answers with other members of your family or with colleagues at work. How did you do? What is your favourite legal word or phrase?
Legal mishaps
Have you ever fallen foul of legal language? Do you have personal experiences of weasel words – perhaps from house purchases, tenancy agreements, or insurance contracts – where your misunderstanding has led you into difficulty? When you complete the English Language Day survey you could tell us about these and we can share them on our web site!
Legal document hunt
Find as many of these – contracts, agreements, wills, old documents etc - as you can and look at them carefully. Look up any words you do not know (there are lots of sites on the Internet to help here). Find out where the words or phrases have come from. Legally copped! In which legal documents have you been named? A contract? Speeding fine? Will? Take the opportunity to study the English used carefully!
Legal identity
"Record", "indenture" "denizen" "citizen" – there are so many words which we
use to identify us under the law. How many more can you think of? Where do
they come from? The English Language Day schools resource, Who Are You? is a worksheet with teachers’ notes so you can explore the language of identity.
Legal English in full flow
Think of your favourite novels or films or tv shows with great speeches in
courts of law (or similar). Choose a favourite and share it with a friend or
family member.
Legal gobbledegook
Remember the Marx Brothers Night at the Opera skit? (Groucho Marx: Now pay
particular attention to this first clause,
because it's most important. There's the party of the first part shall be
known in this contract as the party of the first part. How do you like that,
that's pretty neat eh?). What’s your favourite piece of legal gobbledegook?
Legal precision
Sometimes accuracy and precision are essential and a legal term or turn of phrase is essential in conveying the
meaning clearly. Look at any documents you have or search online to see if you can find any examples.
Legal jokes
What are your favourites? Can you think of any where the humour comes from the way the language is used?
