The Importance of Content Knowledge for Successful Legal Language Acquisition

One of the most difficult tasks in the instruction of legal language is teaching highly specific legal terminology. Although some legal terms are widely used in ordinary language, there are some words and phrases which seem familiar, but have an unexpected meaning for a layperson. Additionally, there is a number of terms with specific legal meanings which presuppose some knowledge of legal content to be fully understood. On the other hand, since legal language is shaped by the legal system in which it is used, legal terms reflect particular legal systems and differences between them and are therefore inseparable from the law. This paper examines what implications this interconnection between language and law has on the process of legal language instruction and acquisition. How important is the knowledge of legal content for successful acquisition of legal terminology? What is the best approach to teaching such content-dependant language and what amount of background information needs to be taught? To answer these questions, the author analyses the results of a survey conducted among the law students attending legal language courses at the Faculty of Law in Zagreb and combines it with theoretical research and her teaching experience.