Law Stack Exchange
Law Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [language]

57 questions
45
votes
13 answers

Is "legalese" a thing in languages other than English?

The idea of legalese needs little introduction. An archaic professional jargon that has developed in the English-speaking world over hundreds of years, it has been largely preserved and sustained by lawyers both due to inertia and a desire to speak…
Robert Columbia
  • 3,899
  • 4
  • 24
  • 48
45
votes
3 answers

If Congress passed a bill written in a language other than English, would it be valid?

Suppose Congress passed a bill written in Spanish and the President signed it. Everything about the bill and the procedures by which it was written and passed were completely normal, other than the language. (Assume everyone in Congress, as well as…
Someone
  • 17,523
  • 13
  • 96
  • 197
27
votes
5 answers

Is it legal for employers to hire only native speakers?

I recently learned that there are some companies (for instance, certain editing, writing, or translation services) that explicitly refuse to hire non-native English speakers for certain positions a priori. Obviously, a person's language abilities…
Obie 2.0
  • 692
  • 1
  • 4
  • 14
21
votes
2 answers

In what language(s) are laws written in Puerto Rico?

A comment on the recent question about the possibility of U.S. laws in Spanish mentioned an assumption that Puerto Rican law would be mostly in Spanish. Not being familiar with Puerto Rican law, this comment just made me curious whether or not that…
reirab
  • 3,487
  • 17
  • 29
15
votes
5 answers

What does it mean to "hold and enjoy" an office?

US Constitution, Article 1, Section 3, Clause 7: Judgment in Cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but…
MCLooyverse
  • 153
  • 1
  • 6
13
votes
4 answers

What effect does bad English have on warnings / disclaimers?

I've come across more than one case of ill-phrased 'legalese' and often wondered where the line is with respect to enforcibalilty etc. For example, a McDonalds promotion which disclaimed: "Offer ends October 30 or while supplies last". Does nonsense…
Jim Mack
  • 300
  • 2
  • 8
11
votes
1 answer

What do lawyers mean when they say somebody said something 'in terms'?

I occasionally see lawyers refer to something somebody else said or wrote, and they often insert, parenthetically, the words 'in terms'. Here is an example to motivate the question. Imagine there is a written report that makes a series of…
Richard G Brown
  • 213
  • 1
  • 5
10
votes
4 answers

Copyright Fair Use: Is using the phrase "Courtesy of" legally acceptable when no permission has been given?

When quoting content under copyright fair use, is it legally acceptable (in English) to use the words "Courtesy of ACME Inc.", even if no permission has been granted? To me, the words "courtesy of" imply that permission has been granted. But I'm…
Amazon Dies In Darkness
  • 1,421
  • 3
  • 16
  • 35
9
votes
3 answers

What does "sign it voluntarily as my own free act" mean?

At the very end of a company's severance agreement (for laid-off employees), just before the signature box, the agreement reads (emphasis mine): I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THE FOREGOING RELEASE, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS MEANING AND CONSEQUENCES, AND SIGN IT…
Jason C
  • 262
  • 2
  • 10
8
votes
5 answers

Is there any (which?) English speaking jurisdiction that uses a civil (continental) law system?

I am trying to develop an artificial legal reasoning system. I am using the English language for it, but I want/need to develop it (firsthand) for the civil/continental law system, not for the common law / Anglo-Saxon law system. But currently it…
TomR
  • 385
  • 2
  • 10
7
votes
1 answer

Is it sufficient to provide a privacy policy only in english language?

Regarding GDPR, is it sufficient for a gaming app available in some commercial app store to provide a privacy policy only in english language? Is a translation necessary for every country of the EU where the app is available?
Wipster
  • 173
  • 3
7
votes
2 answers

Is it legal to swear at school?

First, is it legal to use profane language in school (specifically a high school in California, United States)? Also, what is the maximum punishment allowed for a student using profanity (assume the worst case)? Note: I am not looking for answers…
Pokemon Go
  • 73
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
6
votes
2 answers

Are exercises in language books copyrighted?

Good afternoon, I am working on a language app to learn languages, and I was thinking to include sentences and dialogues for the users to practice their languages.
 My question is: can I re-use, and to what extend, similar exercises used in other…
LanguageExplorer
  • 73
  • 3
6
votes
1 answer

What are the implications of the USA not having an official language?

The USA doesn't have an official language, though in practice everything is in English and some things also in Spanish (and once in a while some services are provided in other languages too). I don't really understand what it means for there to not…
user541686
  • 1,931
  • 4
  • 25
  • 32
5
votes
3 answers

How does the law deal with translating inherently ambiguous writing systems?

During a trial, sometimes the prosecutor must present written materials (emails, text messages, files) obtained from the defendant as evidence in order to prove something. Sometimes this evidence can be crucial to the trial, i.e., the prosecutor…
dvx2718
  • 221
  • 1
  • 5
1
2 3 4