Contents

Acknowledgements

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Background of the Study-1

1.2 Significance of the Study-1

1.3 Organization of the Thesis-2

Chapter Two Literature Review-3

2.1 Introduction to English Lexicon-3

2.1.1 Definition of Lexicon-3

2.1.2 Development of English Lexicon-3

2.2 Introduction to Legal English-3

2.3 Previous Studies on Legal English-4

Chapter Three Analysis on the Lexical Features of Legal English-5

3.1 Legal Technical Terms-5

3.1.1 Legal Terms-5

3.1.2 Quasi-legal Terms-5

3.2 Borrowed Words-6

3.2.1 Latin Words-6

3.2.2 French Words-7

3.3 Old English and Middle Old English-7

3.4 Formal Big Lengthy Words-8

3.5 Precise and Fuzzy Words-8

3.5.1 Precise Words-8

3.5.2 Fuzzy Words-9

3.6 Synonyms Juxtaposition-9

Chapter Four Conclusion-11

References-12

Abstract

Along with the adoption of China's reform and opening-up policy, the external culture exchange of law develops more and more rapidly, and the importance of legal English is also self-evident. However, as a kind of English for specific purposes, legal English has many noticeable features which are very different from those of daily English, and that is why it is so difficult to master legal English. Seeing that getting familiar with the lexical features of a language is of great significance to the learning and the use of the language, this paper gives a brief analysis of the lexical features of legal English from the following aspects, including legal technical terms, borrowed words, old English and middle old English, precise and fuzzy words, formal big lengthy words and synonyms juxtaposition. Hopefully the paper can, to some extent, pave the way for the potential readers who are interested in legal English to understand and master it better, especially in respect of understanding and translation of language of the law. 

Keywords: legal English  lexicon  lexical features