Theoria: An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science

Volume 3, Issue 1/2/3, Octubre/Septiembre 1987/1988

François Paychere
Pages 137-156

Sémiotique et Droit
Exercice de lecture

Language and judicial activities are both signs of the existence of a society. There is, therefore, good reason for a dialogue between the science of language and the science of law. This article applies a linguistic theory of the Paris School (semiotics) to the examination of a legal text, namely a contract. The author points to some eIements shared by legal and other texts, and demonstrates how a semiotic interpretation can provide interesting and unexpected insights into the deeper levels of a legal text. He concludes that a similar approach could fruitfully be used with other types of legal text.