The Center for Applied Linguistics is committed to the study and education of language and linguistic diversity. For legal professionals, mastery of complex writing and analysis is nothing new. As such, it’s perhaps surprising that those who earnestly study linguistics haven’t framed a greater connection between this and the study of the law. The good news is that by blending the language of the law with language studies, both fields benefit. While language education has always focused on precision and clarity, effective legal writing further enhances the effectiveness of linguistic expression. In the early stages of mastering a language, we learn the ins and outs of how meaning is conveyed through talking and writing. Mastering these processes, however, inevitably means learning the rules. This leads to an over-familiarity with the language but can stifle students as they attempt to give life to the words and phrases learned through their coursework. The fact is that every piece of successful legal writing has its roots in efficacy. For example, think about how the concept of precision aids both language and legal writing: To argue that complexity and sophistication are necessary elements of legal writing is to imply that they are necessary elements of language. However, this isn’t always the case. When proper care is taken to examine the particular application of legal terms and phrases, it becomes possible to blend the beauty of language with the analysis behind effective legal writing. It’s why legal professionals are often considered some of the top communicators in their field, and language is able to fill this niche. In fact, students who understand the fundamentals of grammatical rules, expectancy, and analysis will be able to interpret the legal system more effectively. This is why many dual language programs require students to begin taking legal writing classes at age 11. Over the years, these students become great critical thinkers capable of explaining complex ideas in concise terms. As with a well written sentence, persuasive writing aimed at convincing a reader of one specific point of view often requires more than it seems. When writing a persuasive piece, legal professionals typically use the following: While it’s possible to generate narratives without regard to persuasion, the fact is that any wordsmith who truly has something to say would do well to employ the elements of persuasion already covered. By doing so, they open a pathway toward greater success in their field. Both legal writing and the language of the law require the ability to demonstrate analytic thought. In turn, this makes it possible for those who have mastered these subjects to engage readers and listeners with masterfully crafted ideas. Still, there is also a narrative component, which is where legal writing and linguistics begin to diverge. To elaborate is to explain. In blending legal writing principles with language education, educators can help students not only acquire a deep understanding of grammar and expectation, but also apply these principles to the real world.

The Center for Applied Linguistics is all about language, language education, and the application of linguistic principles across numerous subject areas. With a linguistics-themed article on this educational site, a legal theme would be a natural follow-up to engage the interest of both law-minded site visitors and those interested in language learning. That’s right-there are connections between learning and teaching a language and better understanding the legal jargon lawyers and judges use every day!

With this in mind, let’s take a look at how both legal and linguistic forms of communication can benefit from deeper understanding of corresponding principles. You may not anticipate the connections between these two fields, which are generally considered to be entirely different; however, they can end up feeding into one another to make both fields more “user-friendly”.

Of course, the main goal in providing a linguistic-based look at a legal concept, such as formulating a brief overview of the basics of tort law, is to make the concepts behind how the legal system works much easier to comprehend. An overview of tort law is a great way to introduce the basic terminology used in legal documents while also allowing for exploration of the intricate details that surround even the most basic understanding of legal principles.

What is tort law? So, how do you summarize a definition of tort law into simple linguistic educational terms? Most of the time, a simple one sentence definition of complex legal topics leaves those who are hearing your explanation of the concept for the first time totally baffled. For example, here is a quick summation of what this branch of civil law covers: When a person or organization is accused of wrongdoing and is found to either be at fault due to negligence or otherwise intentionally harmful actions against another party, tort law comes into play. Although there are three types of tort, including intentional torts, unintentional torts and “strict liability” torts, all torts are intended to provide restitution by ordering that compensation be paid to the aggrieved party by the responsible party. In other words, it’s a mechanism for settling disputes that have resulted in physical, financial or emotional harm. Some of the types of personal injury lawsuits that fall under this branch of civil law include:

A continued overlap between the fields While the common experience of experiencing harm and seeking a means to recover cannot be expressed more plainly, there are many legal words and phrases used throughout this summary that have layers of meaning. However, any attempts to explain the origins and nuances of legal terminology will only serve as a distraction instead of clarifying the concepts of tort law and how they relate to linguistic principles.

The overlap between legal terms and the vocabulary and grammar used in linguistics can be useful for both linguists and legal professionals. This is particularly useful when it comes to educational applications of legal terminology and clarifying more complex legal matters, as well as when it comes to helping language students and teachers understand the different meanings of words used in everyday conversations.

So how does the relationship between linguistics and law translate into the language classroom? Legal terminology can be used in class to increase both language comprehension skills and general knowledge of the corresponding topic. Investigating the basic terminology and grammar behind various topics in law can help establish language skills as a foundation for building on the topic itself, particularly when it comes to terminology and rules of grammar. Most language teachers don’t have a background in the study of the law or linguistics. Integrating these topics into the language learning environment makes it possible for students to understand the language on two levels, as both a topic of interest in its own right and as merely a means of communication. Whether used to explain the relationship between these fields or to identify the basics of grammatical rules, applied linguistics and tort law can be effectively combined within the language learning arena.

As a language educator, when reading articles that involve legal terms for agreements (both verbal and non-verbal), I have to consider how the phrases and gestures affecting them can be understood in language education. This kind of consideration is particularly important when it comes to things such as legal precedence for using gestures (in this case, a handshake) as a form of “contract” rather than using words or text as a basis for it.

So the question is a handshake legally binding? becomes relevant to me both in terms of how we understand and interpret this question in order to teach others its meaning. When we analyze how the words we use, either spoken or written, affect agreements that we make and what the implications of those agreements are, we also have to understand what impact our body language and non-verbal cues have on these issues as well.

I cannot help but wonder how language education can be used to teach these kinds of legal implications. Though I am not a lawyer, as a linguist I know that knowing how the language involved in legal agreements can help us not only understand what agreements we have made, but also can give us a deeper understanding of the language we use to enforce its legality.

Even if you know what “yes,” “no,” or “maybe” means, when you translate these words into a handshake or head nod, other cultures may have different interpretations of what those actions may mean to the person you are communicating with. High Print Technology has written a similar article, explaining how cultural norms surrounding gestures, especially ones as common as a handshake, can vary by culture, and how that affects agreements you form with others.

I also write articles on the legality of verbal agreements and have discussed verbal agreements before here on The Center for Applied Linguistics website. Now I would like to explore the legal validity of verbal versus non-verbal agreements in more depth. However, I also consider how much we get into the depths of legal analysis when formulating language education messages.

There are many factors that come into play when it comes to forming a legally binding agreement in any country. Generally speaking, formative elements include intent to enter a legally binding contract, offer and acceptance of that offer, genuine consent to the provided terms, legality (as in, they aren’t illegal) of the contract, and reciprocal consideration. However, the legality and interpretation of these conditions can vary between different countries’ legal systems, and even between different states within the same country. Therefore, it is important to keep the culture of the person you are communicating with in mind when considering contractual agreements.

If the culture in a particular country does not recognize a handshake as an acceptable way of contracting an agreement, it likely will not be legally binding for them, causing a surprise on their part if you insist on using it.

Language educators should teach students that gestures such as a handshake can in effect become a binding contract when used correctly with the correct person and in the right cultural context. Then, we can focus on actually using the handshake as a legitimate form of contracting an agreement, and understand its implications.

It is important for language educators to take into consideration how handshakes can be used when forming contractual agreements, as they can immediately interpret a situation, while also not allowing them mutual understanding of what the implications of that situation can actually be.

For more information on the legal aspects of contracts, you can visit the Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School.

Educators, remember the days when finances were kept under the radar? They are long gone, and are becoming an undeniable part of our lives. As educators, we are responsible for developing lessons which are relevant, and that reflect the realities our students face in their daily lives. This includes financial literacy. When you teach money concepts to adults, one of the most prominent challenges they face is understanding the language associated with the financial aspects of life. To draw from the legal industry, one of the biggest concerns for a new business owner is, are legal fees for criminal defense tax deductible? That is far too complex of a concept to teach without breaking down into smaller bits. When we teach, we want to make sure to explain all necessary components, in addition to giving an overview of the big picture. We do this by making our lessons relevant and relatable.

Today we’re going to focus on the taxes that may be associated when an individual is accused and/or convicted of a crime. The first step to understanding taxes is learning the general principles. Simply put, “deductible expenses are items you can subtract or deduct from your total taxable income. The less taxable income you have, the less tax you will pay. Deductions can be as simple as meal expenses for a business meeting or gas mileage for turning your hobby into a side hustle; buying a business car or any other vehicle.” On the other hand, “non-deductible expenses include personal expenses, appliance purchases, remodels, etc.” (refer to taxes.lovetoknow.com). In terms of criminal defense cases, while the individual may be found guilty, many expenses associated with the case are not tax deductible. For example, conference calls, printing costs, travel/vehicle expenses, postering, any special research costs, anything related to calls/witnesses/records, and communications.

It is essential to give financial literacy a top priority when you teach adults. Understanding taxes is just one component of everyday money understanding. If you’re unsure where to start, consider what common concerns they may face. For example, how often do you think folks need to monitor their bank statement for fraudulent activity? Or, what about when they visit a grocery store and notice a service fee at an unattended self-checkout kiosk? When we look at what finances look like in a day-to-day job, the options for increasing financial literacy are endless. Focus on simple day-to-day tasks and National Financial Literacy Month resources like those offered by the National Association of Federal Credit Unions.

According to Investopedia, there are a variety of common tax-related vocabulary words that every working adult should know, such as: Unfortunately, going back to our complex example of are legal fees for criminal defense tax deductible? Christopher Peterson’s, Jr. agrees that legal costs as a whole are not tax deductible, however “certain legal fees may be deductible depending on the situation, however, for the most part, deducting personal legal expenses on a tax return is not permitted” (refer to www.investopedia.com). You’ll notice I’ve defined all of these key terms, because that is the simplest way to teach tax terminology to a diverse class. Consider dual language programs that integrate teaching financial literacy. Financial literacy plays a direct role in an individual’s success in life, therefore it should be an essential component of adult language programs.

As for are legal fees for criminal defense tax deductible? If you speak to a customer service representative, they have a duty to document everything; as a result, when you tell them what your issue is, ask them to show you where in the tax code tells them that legal fees are not deductible, and ask why the IRS states otherwise. It could be a clerical error on the part of the service provider; alternatively, it could be an opportunity for you to teach them something new. Laurie Koloski from For Lawyers Only says “If you and your criminal defense lawyer were successfully able to argue that your criminal charge was related to securing your current job, you would be able to deduct these legal expenses. To be clear, legal fees are not automatically deductible. You would need to prove that hiring the lawyer related to your employment.”

With that, when are legal fees for criminal defense tax deductible? As educators, we always strive to learn new and interesting information that can enhance our classroom experience. For example, For Lawyers Only cites an article by Tax Talk entitled “Deducting Legal Fees for Criminal Defense”, which states that if a client can prove that a conviction protects work status going forward then those legal fees are legitimate deductions.

For more information on tax deductions, you can visit the IRS website.

Modern scholars and those who study language as a career need to be acutely aware of risks that can affect education in this field. Without the right protections in mind, they may quickly find that their progress is stymied or even halted.

When educators have business resources available to them, they can move forward with confidence. The backbone of any school is the faculty and staff, and attorneys who understand the unique concerns in the education space can bolster the important work that they do.

Business lawyers usually offer initial consultations at no charge and this is where they can help schools the most. College programs and other educational institutions have contracts that need to be understood and drawn up. Mistakes in the drafting process can create liabilities and other complications that only increase over time. Language centers need to hire a lawyer for their start-up needs, which may include a program agreement or other school documents.

Once a program is on the books, though, there’s still plenty of work to be done. Money doesn’t just flow in by magic; the right attorneys know how to seek out a grant for schools interested in growing. What goes along with this step is an understanding of compliance issues. A business attorney can help you keep your school on the right side of the law, so you can protect your students.

How many times have people thought about a problem and not come to a satisfactory conclusion? The challenge of understanding the law on your own is compounded by the fact that there are so many distractions in your life. Students are involved in complex projects. Learners have many things to do that don’t occur on a regular schedule and that leaves you with many distractions.

In order to avoid issues, get the right education attorney on your side.

Establishing a school is one way to seek funds to support its operations. The good thing about working with attorney involving a business plan is that these individuals have the ability to see the big picture and make sense of it all. They know grants and projects can be funded, and they know when to say no.

There are many organizations designed to help learners and educators. Any school looking for a business attorney can find one from this organization. Once you go through the steps of hiring an attorney, you must stay in touch with them. When you need to establish a new program, schedule a meeting and let them know what you plan to do. They’ll place their legal knowledge to assist you with the next project. Education providers of all kinds need to work with business attorneys as they attempt to offer projects. Again, these professionals have the ability to offer a kind of support that makes it easier to move forward. They’ll be there to identify any problems with a business plan and put everything in order when needed.

We have discussed the recognition (or lack thereof) of common law marriages in Pennsylvania here at Stuff I Make My Husband. In keeping with our overall theme of linguistic precision and how that applies in real worlds situations, we wanted to take this idea a step further to look into the linguistics of legal documentation and communication more generally. While this post does focus on the most common application of the words “marriage” and “divorce” (as they appear in the context of a state legal code), recognizing and applying the principles we discuss here can have a far-reaching impact on many facets of communication and use of language across a wide range of contexts. This is particularly true when addressing a dual language setting.

After all, saying someone is “married” is very different than saying someone “used to be married,” and both are very distinct from saying someone was never married at all. While it will not get as much press as the highly publicized definition of “is” by the president himself, language is critically important in the law. These are some common ways we see the courts attempt to clear up what it means to have been married at any point in time, with varying amounts of success.

The meaning behind the words is there common law marriage in pennsylvania is itself an interesting topic with a lot of linguistic history behind it. Common law marriage as a concept comes from English law and refers to a marriage that essentially was accepted as a marriage by local custom even if it didn’t fit the parameters of a formal, state sanctioned marriage. Instead, the mere holding out of the parties as being married (i.e. using the language of being married in all social settings) could constitute a common law marriage. This was because England didn’t have formal registries or ceremonial requirements, so this type of concept was fairly prevalent.

In America, though, formal statutes exist that actually define marriage. Pennyslvania law has such a statute, however, the language of the statute makes the existence of common law marriages in Pennsylvania a lingering issue. Pennsylvania’s law states that any person who was previously married under common law before 2005 (the year when the common law marriage provision in Pennsylvania law was repealed) can still rely upon the common law marriage in a court of law today. Because that the mere holding out as a married couple can in some cases be based on the use of language, let’s look into the statute, and the language therein, that the courts have used to explain the meaning behind the words common law marriage.

The first recommendation we can make is to NEVER leave your spoken word to interpretation if you are in a position where linguistics are critically important. Even if something seems like the simplest of phrases, leaving one’s spoken words to interpretation can lead to massive linguistic issues of incongruity. Indeed, even the use of the word “used to be” can be read to mean a strict termination of a relationship, or something with more potential for future contact.

And so it goes with common law marriage. Even if the courts attempt to explain it, the nuances of the language used can produce very real consequences. As noted by the courts in the consequences of the use of the word “or” can produce linguistic discrepancies. Indeed, the following example is a clear example of how the “or” can be read one way, or another:

While the parties are presumed to have contracted a valid marriage, when one of two people in a relationship pass away, questions arise as to whether the “surviving” spouse was legally married to the decedent. The dichotomy between the two interpretations lies in the use of the word “or.” If the decedent “and” the survivor had cohabitated for a period of at least three-years as husband and wife, a valid marriage was allegedly entered into. However, if the decedent “or” the survivor had a three-year period of cohabitation, with or without a valid marriage, a common law marriage is alleged to have existed.

But how does this really apply to an everyday situation? To understand the issues with “or” mentioned above, imagine taking English language classes where students are being taught the differences between “or” and “and,” and then a legal document is presented to them that uses the word “or” instead of “and.”

This is just one example of a document where the use of “or” could lead to the disqualifying of a marriage, and therefore the disqualification of the rights of a surviving spouse to inherit from the property of the deceased spouse.

There are a few ways that you can approach this kind of language-whichever way you choose to address the language issues depends on the context in which you are teaching.

In addition to the above, here are a couple of resources that may help educators teach legal terminology and concepts in a manner that can be understood and accepted. For more information on common law marriage, you can visit Wikipedia.

Understanding Language and Contracts

As language educators, we are always looking for new ways to challenge and teach our students. Knowing how to decode language is important, and in order to teach how to view on that skill, you must first understand what it is. From the time we are born, we are learning how to communicate in our native tongue. When we are learning a second language, we are still learning at an accelerated rate. It is scientifically proven that a child’s brain learns faster than that of an adult. Our brains are little sponges, soaking up everything around us. Assimilating language means to know how to use the language to get what you need or want. Whether you know how the language works, or the words used in the language, you still have the ability to learn.

The rules that govern contract language are no different, but it has its own set of rules that can sometimes make it difficult to understand. The most common type of contracts, or agreements, in our everyday life is a lease document. When we hear the word lease, we think of a popular version, which is a housing lease. Many of us have rented a home or apartment at some point in our life. We all know the gist, here is the lease terms in exchange I will get paid monthly throughout the term of the lease, and then I will sign a purchase agreement and buy the house. The concept of a lease is one we all understand on some level; however, the issue comes down to who is signing the lease, what the terms are and what they mean. This situation becomes difficult for those who do not have English as their first language. Without the understanding of the meaning of each word and how it works with the other words, the contract is hard to understand.

Foreign languages present more challenges in legal matters, as you have one language being legally translated to another. The struggle of lost meaning is something we have all experienced and have to deal with on a regular basis. The legal system is constantly moving and changing, and what was the right definition in 1990, may not be the correct definition now. Contracts are the same way. If a contract was drafted in 1980, the definitions used to refer to terms may have changed, but it is written consensus. The contract is binding because all parties have signed it, and it is their responsibility to interpret and follow the documents. Luckily, sometimes the court can intervene to help clarify the meaning of a provision in a contract. As language educators we may not be able to always understand why words mean what they mean, but we can look them up.

We often think that contracts were made that way on purpose, giving someone an unfair advantage, but that is not true. The legal system has made great strides to correct the injustices of the past, and legal contracts are easier to read now than they were fifty years ago. We discussed here the other day the evolution of legal language and how we ended up with the language we use today. Contracts are slowly evolving, and the language is becoming more accessible for us all.

Including contracts and legal terminology as part of your language lessons can be a benefit to all your students. It allows your students to learn the language and vocabulary, and gives them real practical experiences they can refer to. According to the in-depth guide on Idaho rental lease agreements, interpretive reading has a rule, and interesting enigma of its own. Seeing how sentences interact with one another can change the meaning and intention of the sentence. Having students write their own example of a contract or legal document allows them to use the vocabulary outside of a typical class setting. That is real world interaction with the language.

Postnuptial Agreement vs. Divorce: Understanding Your Options

When considering the idea of a comprehensive postnuptial agreements vs. divorce, it is important to consider all the factors involved. In this article, we will explore the legal definitions of postnuptial agreements and divorce, the role of language and communication in marital agreements, and the psychological effects of such arrangements. We will also look at the communication needs of couples during the time when a postnuptial agreement or divorce may be needed, and how language decisions can affect the outcome of these options.

A postnuptial agreement is an arrangement made between both spouses after the marriage takes place. The most common reasons for a postnuptial agreement are to decide on power of attorney issues, inheritance matters, and as an incentive for one spouse to stay in a desirable marriage. Sometimes people will enter an agrément postnuptial despite having signed a prenuptial agreement years earlier.

A divorce is a formal ending of a marriage that results in a division of the assets that were acquired during the time of the marriage. A divorce can be either contested or uncontested. During an uncontested divorce, both parties agree on personal, financial, tax, and child custody issues. During a contested divorce, both parties need to litigate specific issues with a family law attorney.

Issues that may motivate a couple to enter a postnuptial agreement may not be as pressing as those that would occur during a divorce. However, there are a number of linguistic reasons that could lead one couple to opt for one or another. For example, a couple may communicate better in one language than another. If English is not one of the couple’s native languages, then perhaps the husband’s parents only speak Spanish. When he speaks with them, they may interpret behaviors and sayings in a way that is unique to only their culture. This could lead that individual to decide that a postnuptial agreement may be the best choice, rather than considering a divorce. In marriages that involve individuals who speak multiple languages, the ability to discuss topics in different languages can also help to clarify issues for one or both individuals.

Like any conflict, postnuptial agreements and divorces can be resolved more efficiently and smoothly if those involved have a more in-depth understanding on the topic at hand. Therefore, one option for a couple experiencing difficulty is for both individuals to first familiarize themselves with the key terms and concepts involved with postnuptial agreements and divorces. There are many handbooks and texts available for topics such as divorce and postnuptial agreements.

However, what if a couple already has appointed a family law attorney to handle their case? In this case, language education can still be helpful to ensure that each individual understands the proceedings as they happen. When a couple hires an attorney who speaks their native language, they are able to keep open lines of communication that allow them to consult with one another whenever needed.

One thing that a couple should remember is that there are some behaviors that cannot be easily conveyed in any language. For example, when a spouse uses physical or mental abuse, that individual can speak any language and the effects of that abuse will still be the same. The only thing to do in such a case is to know when an agreement is better than a divorce. In the unfortunate event that you do need to end the marriage, remember to have the legal process done correctly to ensure the best outcome possible.

Language education often requires teachers to adapt content to the current events and issues affecting their students’ lives. This is especially true in ESL/EFL teaching, where students from different parts of the world may have learned English differently from one another and even learned different dialects, slang or vernacular. Thus, when there are changes to language as it is known in their home countries, such as when the logistics of what affect their realistic environments are changed, those changes must be integrated into material.

For example, the introduction of legislation like House Bill 1298, which allows for is lane splitting legal in pa, means that ESL/EFL teachers who have students who will be operating under that new law may have to teach the new language materials that come with it. So, what is lane splitting, why did it come into existence, and how would it be integrated into ESL/EFL teaching?

In short, lane splitting is an action in which motorcyclists move between two lanes during congestion in order to reach their destination more quickly. In Afghanistan, however, motorcycles are not a common form of transport, whereas in places where traffic may be worse motorcycles may be even more common than cars.

At the most basic level, language is about communication. Whether that communication takes the form of verbal language or body language, it all comes down to how we inform others about what is going on around us and how we feel about the things that going on around us. So, drivers in states where lane splitting is enabled by law might see motorcyclists getting around, and be confused by it.

They might then ask the question of why this occurs, and also what makes it legal. If they are, for example, drivers of trucks, their size means they may not maneuver quickly enough to avoid a motorcycle that cuts them across.

In areas where lane splitting is illegal, drivers may see motorcyclists weaving between lanes and be frustrated at the behavior. They may be frustrated by these acts of lane splitting, cutting corners or jumping ahead in line for various reasons. Regardless, the very appearance of lane splitting in traffic patterns means that those who commute need to have a language to talk about it.

Meanwhile, in order to enable such discussion, those who learn English must have the vocabulary to discuss such legal matters and their effects on people’s everyday lives.

For example, let’s say an ESL student is learning about how to identify accidents and seek help after being in one. Just like a motorcycle accident, they need to know how to describe the scene of the accident and report what happened without attempting to determine who is at fault. If they could determine who was at fault, they would need the words for understanding and determining fault under circumstances where lane splitting may be legal.

That means that the language that is built for discussions of law needs to be integrated into the curriculum of any real-life ESL and EFL students who plan to live in states where lane splitting is legal. It may be that there are more living in states where it is not, in which case the language to discuss both is still useful, even if not directly applicable.

Basically, it comes down to this. When there are legal changes, there are corresponding language changes. ESL/EFL teachers need to keep up with these changes and integrate them into their curricula as they arise, and students need to know how to speak about the things around them. This is critical to their ability to succeed in learning about what goes on around them, and is thus critical to their success in speaking English. Just as legislators should be aware of language and teaching to think of how to structure legislation so as to best teach those who will learn English anyway, teachers need to know about what people are thinking and speaking about around them to ensure that they can talk about what goes on around them.

For more information on lane splitting and its legal implications, you can visit the Wikipedia page on lane splitting.

The Center for Applied Linguistics (“The Center” or “CAL”) is dedicated to international understanding through multilingual education and linguistic diversity. Their mission is to support language learning and cultural services, to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, and to foster multilingual language communities.

There are many ways that linguistic principles can be applied when learning a new language. Additionally, there are numerous ways that language and communication can be incorporated into the learning process. The Center’s goal is to promote these practices and to provide support to all language educators. They aim at delivering high quality and comprehensive services for all of their clients, from policymakers to researchers to language learners.

A key principle behind language education and applied linguistics is understanding the importance of being able to communicate clearly. For example, if a student cannot read and understand what their teacher is saying, then they are unable to learn. This concept may seem obvious. However, this is also a theory that can be applied to more than just classroom settings.

Words mean different things to different people. Additionally, words mean different things in different parts of the world. Technically speaking, the meaning of a word is called its “denotation.” However, the connotation – or “what that word brings to mind” – is typically more important because that is the meaning we associate with that word. For example, the word “dog” technically refers to a domesticated canine. However, to most people it might bring to mind a childhood pet, their own pet, or even a wolf. These are connotations. As such, trying to communicate a concept or idea can result in a breakdown of communication if the person is not familiar with the words you chose to use.

In this way, when drafting a contract – especially one to be used across a variety of industries and fields – it is important the contract is as easy to understand as possible. This is why even the most well-crafted security agreements can fall short if the right individuals are not also involved during the drafting process. For example, if those drafting the contract were not communicating with a translator, then the translator would not have an opportunity to review and confirm that legal terms are properly being translated and used.

In this way, a translator can assist in the understanding of a contract similar to that of language education. For example, if terminology is being improperly used, similar to what might occur in a classroom, then the model of communication being used could be flawed and the concepts could be lost between individuals who understand the material in different ways. This is why it is so important to have the contract carefully looked at by as many eyes as possible and from as many different perspectives as possible.

When drafting a contract, it is important to consider how it will be used, who it will be used by, and how the concepts being used may be foreign to potential users. For this reason, companies should have any contracts they are thinking about using reviewed by counsel to ensure they contain appropriate language and no hidden terms or concepts. To learn more about what to include in a security guard contract, click here to view the promoted article, What to Include in a Security Guard Contract, available online at this link.