Date post: | 30-Dec-2015 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | sydney-davidson |
View: | 237 times |
Download: | 3 times |
Introduction to English for Public Administration I
General info
Lecturer: Dr. sc. Marijana Javornik Čubrić Classes: Wednesday 9:00 – 10:30 Office hours: Tuesday 11:30 – 12:30,
Gundulićeva 10, Room no. 6 Contact: [email protected]
Coursebook
Pavić, Smerdel, Vićan English for Lawyers, Narodne novine, Zagreb, 2012
Units 1, 2, 3, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15
Topics – English for Law
What Is Meant by Law? Sources and Varieties of English Law Statute Law in Britain Legal Aid The Constitution The European Court of Human Rights The Nature and Sources of American Federalism The American Presidency
Course plan
Oct. 1 Introduction to ESP Oct. 15 What Is Meant by Law? Oct. 22 Sources and Varieties of English Law Oct. 29 Statute Law in Britain Nov. 5 Revision and grammar session Nov. 19 Legal Aid Nov. 26 The Constitution Dec. 3 European Court of Human Rights Dec. 10 Revision and translation practice Dec. 17 The Nature and Sources of American Federalism Jan. 7 American Presidency
Revision (test sample) Jan. 14 End-of-term examination Jan. 21 Vocabulary revision Jan. 28 Final revision and signatures
Teaching materials
Available at: www.pravo.hr/sj/nastavni-materijali
Folder: Engleski jezik upravne struke I
Examination
Written part – grammar, legal terms, translation, basic definitions
Oral part – presenting a topic using relevant vocabulary
ESP
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 EPA – English for Public Administration
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
ELP
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.
Thank you for your attention!