Discursive mediation of expert knowledge to a lay audience: An analysis of Russian jury instructions

This article examines Russian jury instructions which have barely been treated or analyzed in terms of explanatory strategies employed expert-lay discourse where a set abstract concepts needs to be displayed way that enables lay audience understand them. The current study was thus motivated by the lack explicit guidance for interacting with persons courtroom trials, and challenges faced members attempting and(or) unfamiliar legal concepts. results underpin article’s central argument can overcome incomprehensibility expert texts indicating efforts should undertaken explain technical audience. These are 1) definitions selected paradigmatic manner; 2) descriptions communicate new knowledge relating it existing narrative way; 3) examples used intention avoiding communication problems referring complex concrete objects events; 4) metaphors facilitate jurors’ comprehension information bringing closer their everyday experience; 5) synonyms provide alternatives from language. research could extended further carrying out studies on other special domains incomprehensible create demand expert-to-lay translation.