Language of legal and business English documentation: style and features

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the essential features of such important branches of documentation as business and legal texts, which initiate processes of mutual immersion, capable of covering these valuable spheres of social life of most developing countries. The authors emphasize that the structure of a business or legal document concerns its internal organization. Like any construction, the compilation of legal and business documents must comply with certain rules, the most important of which is the division of the document into separate sections. The authors identify key structural requirements for the content of a business or legal document, which should include: unity and internal logic in the text of the document; consistent placement of legal material in the text of the document; ensuring convenience when using the document. In addition, the authors highlight key features of business and legal documentation: the use of common words with specialized meanings, the emergence of absolute synonyms, unusual word order, the use of atypical pronoun forms, the use of pronouns, the formation of nouns using the endings -er, -or, -ee, the widespread use of phrasal verbs, precision and concreteness, borrowings from Latin and French, the present tense instead of the future, the active voice. In conclusion, the authors argue that the study of legislative and business texts reveals unique features of legal language, shaped by the historical influences of Latin, French, and Old English. These documents demonstrate a highly structured style, precise terminology, specialized vocabulary, and formal grammatical constructions, all designed to ensure clarity, precision, and the avoidance of ambiguity.