Introduction to English for Public

Administration I
General info
Lecturer: Dr. sc. Marijana Javornik ubri
Classes: Wednesday 9:00 10:30
Office hours: Tuesday 10:00 11:00,
Gundulieva 10, Room no. 6
Contact: marijana.javornik@pravo.hr

Coursebook
1st semester
Pavi, Smerdel, Vian 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. 9 Introduction to ESP
Oct. 16 What Is Meant by Law?
Oct. 23 Sources and Varieties of English Law
Oct. 30 Statute Law in Britain
Nov. 6 Revision and grammar session
Nov. 20 Legal Aid
Nov. 27 The Constitution
Dec. 4 European Court of Human Rights
Dec. 11 Revision and translation practice
Dec. 18 The Nature and Sources of American Federalism
Jan. 15 American Presidency
Revision (test sample)
Jan. 22 End-of-term examination
Jan. 29 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 lani brak
valid reason utemeljeni razlog
voidable contract pobojan ugovor
wrongful death smrt tree 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!