A Pragmatic Analysis of Legalese: The Benue State University Experience

Abstract

Legal language is characterised by a peculiar systematic patterning and potentialities as a viable communication system. This study is concerned with the analysis of legal language within the ambit of pragmatics. Pragmatics studies the use of language in communication, particularly the relationship between sentences, context and the situations in which they are used. The aim of this research is to undertake a pragmatic analysis of legal: A case Study of Benue State University, Makurdi, arching Speech Acts theory. Consequently, Speech Acts Theory as propounded by Austin (1962) which forms the theoretical framework for this study. It offers the analytical tool for making overt the Illocutionary Acts that is contained in discourse. Austin’s theory considers utterance as an action, particularly with regard to its intention, purpose or effect. Data were obtained from primary and secondary sources, Using the descriptive and qualitative approach, data are presented in numerical analysis from 1 to 15.  The study discovers that legal language is characterised by Austin’s classification of Illocutionary Speech Acts. Furthermore, it concludes that legal language is directive, commissive, declarative, representative and expressive.