A Stylistic study of legal language in the verdicts of the Supreme Court of Pakistan

Abstract

The study outlines the nature and function of stylistics in the published verdicts of the supreme court of Pakistan. Stylistics, the bridge between the form and content in language, is useful in understanding the verdicts from the perspective of language and it also identifies the style of text as determinant of its understandability. The study employs the approach of Alabi and Searle and views the text of verdicts comprising successive layers of style overlapping each other in such manner that the deeper layers enrich and supplement the expository power of layers closer to the surface. Such an approach helped in identifying the style in holistic sense where the elements of style were viewed as connected and supporting each other. The analysis of selected text reveal stylistic complexity that follows the conventions of legal texts in other Anglophone states and adds to them some features that may be interpreted as peculiar to Pakistan. The conclusion is drawn that the style of legal text in Pakistani apex court’s judgments has been going in direction of establishing the unique Pakistani legal English which would be more effect in catering to the local needs.