Ordinary Meaning
A Theory of the Most Fundamental Principle of Legal Interpretation
9780226304854
9780226304991
Ordinary Meaning
A Theory of the Most Fundamental Principle of Legal Interpretation
Consider this court case: a defendant has traded a gun for drugs, and there is a criminal sentencing provision that stipulates an enhanced punishment if the defendant “uses” a firearm “during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.” Buying the drugs was obviously a crime—but can it be said that the defendant actually “used” the gun during the crime? This sort of question is at the heart of legal interpretation.
Legal interpretation is built around one key question: by what standard should legal texts be interpreted? The traditional doctrine is that words should be given their “ordinary meaning”: words in legal texts should be interpreted in light of accepted standards of communication. Yet often, courts fail to properly consider context, refer to unsuitable dictionary definitions, or otherwise misconceive how the ordinary meaning of words should be determined. In this book, Brian Slocum builds his argument for a new method of interpretation by asking glaring, yet largely ignored, questions. What makes one particular meaning the “ordinary” one, and how exactly do courts conceptualize the elements of ordinary meaning? Ordinary Meaning provides a much-needed, revised framework, boldly instructing those involved with the law in how the components of ordinary meaning should properly be identified and developed in our modern legal system.
Legal interpretation is built around one key question: by what standard should legal texts be interpreted? The traditional doctrine is that words should be given their “ordinary meaning”: words in legal texts should be interpreted in light of accepted standards of communication. Yet often, courts fail to properly consider context, refer to unsuitable dictionary definitions, or otherwise misconceive how the ordinary meaning of words should be determined. In this book, Brian Slocum builds his argument for a new method of interpretation by asking glaring, yet largely ignored, questions. What makes one particular meaning the “ordinary” one, and how exactly do courts conceptualize the elements of ordinary meaning? Ordinary Meaning provides a much-needed, revised framework, boldly instructing those involved with the law in how the components of ordinary meaning should properly be identified and developed in our modern legal system.
344 pages | 2 line drawings, 17 tables | 6 x 9 | © 2015
Language and Linguistics: Language and Law
Law and Legal Studies: Legal Thought
Reviews
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. The Ordinary Meaning Doctrine
Chapter 2. Hypothetical Intentionalism and Communicative Content
Chapter 3. The Constitutive and Evidential Aspects of Ordinary Meaning
Chapter 4. Ordinary Meaning, “What Is Said” and “What Is Communicated”
Chapter 5. Ordinary Meaning and Lexical Semantics
Chapter 6. Conclusion
Appendix A. Synonyms for Ordinary Meaning
Appendix B. Supreme Court Cases Using Ordinary Meaning
Appendix C. Cases since 1986 Where the Supreme Court Used “Literal Meaning” as a Synonym for Ordinary Meaning
Appendix D. Recent Supreme Court Cases Regarding Ordinary Meaning with Dissenting Opinions
Notes
References
Index
Chapter 2. Hypothetical Intentionalism and Communicative Content
Chapter 3. The Constitutive and Evidential Aspects of Ordinary Meaning
Chapter 4. Ordinary Meaning, “What Is Said” and “What Is Communicated”
Chapter 5. Ordinary Meaning and Lexical Semantics
Chapter 6. Conclusion
Appendix A. Synonyms for Ordinary Meaning
Appendix B. Supreme Court Cases Using Ordinary Meaning
Appendix C. Cases since 1986 Where the Supreme Court Used “Literal Meaning” as a Synonym for Ordinary Meaning
Appendix D. Recent Supreme Court Cases Regarding Ordinary Meaning with Dissenting Opinions
Notes
References
Index