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English for Tax Administration Study I. General information. Lecturer: Dr. sc. Marijana Javornik Čubrić Classes: Tuesday 10:00 – 11:30 Office hours: Tuesday 11:30 – 12:30, Room no. 6 Contact: marijana.javornik@pravo.hr. Coursebook.
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General information • Lecturer: Dr. sc. Marijana Javornik Čubrić • Classes: Tuesday 10:00 – 11:30 • Office hours: Tuesday 11:30 – 12:30, Room no. 6 • Contact: marijana.javornik@pravo.hr
Coursebook • Pavić, Smerdel, Vićan. English for Lawyers, Narodne novine, Zagreb, 2012 • Units 1,2,3, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14
Course outline • Oct. 9 Introduction to ESP • Oct. 16 What Is Meant by Law? • Oct. 19 Sources and Varieties of English Law • Oct. 23 Statute Law in Britain • Oct. 30 Legal Profession in Britain • Nov. 20 Talking to a Barrister • Nov. 27 Revision • Dec. 4 Legal Aid • Dec. 11 The Significance of a Constitution • Dec. 18 American Federalism • Jan. 8 Revision • Jan. 15 End-of-term examination • Jan. 22 Final revision and signatures
Examination • Written part – grammar, legal terms, translation, content • Oral part – presenting a topic using relevant vocabulary
Common abbreviations • EFL – English as a Foreign Language • ESP – English for Specific Purposes (f. e. Business English) • EAP – English for Academic Purposes • ELP – English for Legal Purposes • ESW – English for Social Work
The teaching of ESP • A separate activity within English Language Teaching (ELT) • ESP must be taught by studying a content-based subject – knowledge of the language becomes the means of learning content (CLIL)
A definition of ESP (Strevens) • ESP is designed to meet specific needs of the learner • Related in content (themes and topics) to particular disciplines or occupations • Centred on language appropriate to those activities in syntax, lexis, discourse and so on • In contrast with ‘General English’
Key stages in ESP • Needs analysis • Course design • Materials selection • Teaching and learning • Evaluation
Language issues in ESP • Grammar • Vocabulary (technical, semi-technical) • Discourse analysis
Difficulties in ELP 1. Polysemy 2. Phrases 3. Foreign and archaic words 4. Doubles and triplets 5. Technical vocabulary
Polysemy • Words that have several meanings; one meaning in ordinary English and another meaning as a legal term • The importance of the context (everyday language v. language for legal purposes) • Examples: common, act, consideration, tender, redemption etc.
Phrases • Collocations - examples • rescind a contract – raskinuti ugovor • sham marriage – lažni brak • valid reason – utemeljeni razlog • voidable contract – pobojan ugovor • wrongful death – smrt treće osobe
Foreign and archaic words • Words of Scandinavian, Latin and French origin • Archaic terms
Latin terms • Ab ovo – from the beginning • Affidavit – witnessed&signed statement • Bona fide – in good faith • De facto (in fact) and de jure (by right) • Et cetera (etc.) – and so on • Exempli gratia (e. g.) – for example • Id est (i.e.) – that is • Inter alia – among other things
French terms • Acquis communitaire • Voir dire (speak the truth) – jury selection, preliminary questioning of witnesses • Parley – negotiations (cf. Parliament) • Chattel(s) • Executor
Archaic terms • Aforementioned – set out above • Hereafter – after this • Hereby – in this way • Herein – in this (document) • Notwithstanding – despite • Thereafter – after that • Thereby – in that way • Therein – in that (document) • Therewith – with that
Doubles and triplets • To have and to hold – to own • Any and all – all • Last will and testament • Null and void • Full and complete • Ready, willing and able
Technical vocabulary • Legal terms – examples • Tort • Alternative dispute resolution • Remedies • Trafficking • Money laundering
Similar notions • Contract v. agreement • Probation v. parole • Evidence v. proof • Common law v. case law • Barrister, solicitor, lawyer, attorney, counsel, litigator - odvjetnik
Characteristics of legal texts • Long and complex sentences • The passive • Impersonal style – avoiding personal pronouns • Legal “shall” – imposing an obligation or duty on someone • Technical vocabulary • Archaic and foreign words • Repetition of words
Example • Rewrite the following passage: “ The statement for professional services that you will find enclosed herewith is, in all likelihood, somewhat in excess of your expectations. In the circumstances, I believe it is incumbent upon me to avail myself of this opportunity to provide you with an explanation of the causes therefor. It is my considered judgment that three factors are responsible for this development.” (Source: R. Wydick, Plain English for Lawyers, p. 57)
Plain English formulation • The bill I am sending you with this letter is probably higher than you expected, and I would like to explain three reasons why.