Activities for Schools
As part of English Language Day, the English Project is running a scheme in partnership with the Hampshire Archives and Local Studies Centre involving schools in Hampshire. It is intended for Year 10 pupils and is relevant to their work in English, Citizenship, History or even French.
Schools can download a worksheet and teachers' notes which pose the tantalising question, “Who Are You?” which teachers can use in classes to help understand how language shapes our identity and why English and the language of law have evolved in the way that they have.
Activities to try at home or at work
The theme of the inaugural English Language Day is the language of law in its widest sense. We have come up with some ideas which you can see here to help you explore legal language. They can be enjoyed either individually or with others, at home or at work.
Language of Law conference
On the day itself we will be hosting three inaugural events to mark English Language Day 2009 at leading law firm Taylor Wessing in partnership with City University London and The University of Winchester.:
- An evening debate on whether the language of English Law is in need of fundamental reform, led by celebrities, judges and QCs, including Judge Stephen Gerlis, Richard Gordon QC, Anne Atkins and Shaun Lay
- A conference for sixth form students from London and Hampshire schools, where science journalist and renowned science writer Rita Carter will explore "legalese and the brain”
- An event for university law students and practitioners on the origins and use of legal language, led by top lawyers and academics from The University of Winchester and City Law School
the language of law: a history
Professor Christopher Mulvey writes his own account of how English came to be the language of citizenship in the UK and how English evolved to be a treasure-house of words with a legal history. Download Legal Lingo PDF here >
baffled by legal jargon?
take part in our survey
You might have stumbled over the language in a contract in the past or been mystified by phrases in a document. Or simply been stumped by obscure and archaic words. You might even have a favourite word or phrase. Whatever your experience, take part in our survey and find out how much you know about legal language. It’ll help us provide a snapshot of just how much people understand today and fuel the debate about change.
