LEXICAL AND STYLISTIC FEATURES OF ENGLISH-LANGUAGE LEGAL TEXTS

Abstract

The article examines the lexical and stylistic features of English-language legal texts, which form an integral part of contemporary legal discourse. The research focuses on the analysis of specific terminology, syntactic structures, stylistic techniques, and linguistic means used in legal texts written in English. Special attention is paid to the formation of legal terminology, its precision, unambiguity, and functionality in the legal context.
The study of lexical and stylistic characteristics of such texts reveals patterns in the use of linguistic units in legal documents, such as contracts, legislative acts, court decisions, and other normative texts. The article emphasizes the key features of legal style, including formalism, impersonality, clarity of presentation, and strict logical structure.
The paper also analyzes the use of legal terms of Latin origin, archaic expressions, modal verbs, and complex syntactic constructions, which make the texts highly precise yet sometimes difficult to comprehend. The phenomenon of legal jargon is explored, as well as the challenges of translating English-language legal texts into other languages, particularly Ukrainian, while preserving their content, legal accuracy, and stylistic adequacy.
Special focus is given to stylistic devices that contribute to the formulation of legal norms, such as repetition, parallel constructions, conditional formulas, and imperative expressions. The article also includes an analysis of the impact of the cultural and legal environment of English-speaking countries on the linguistic features of legal texts.
The practical value of the research lies in its potential to benefit legal professionals, translators of legal texts, and students studying legal English. The findings can serve as a foundation for developing textbooks and manuals on legal linguistics and for enhancing knowledge in the field of legal translation.