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Article
A second language speaker in court: linguistic phenomenon threatening justice
Alternative Law Journal (2007)
  • Megumi Ogawa
Abstract

Justice requires that all parties involved in a case must be equally treated before the law without any disadvantage for any reason. Where legal proceedings involve a second language speaker, a key to secure justice is to understand disadvantages that are triggered by the command of the second language. This article analyses disadvantages in court of a second language speaker. The article also introduces some examples of ongoing efforts by the court to mitigate these disadvantages.

Keywords
  • social justice,
  • law and language
Disciplines
Publication Date
January 1, 2007
Citation Information
Ogawa, M 2007, 'A second language speaker in court: linguistic phenomenon threatening justice', Alternative Law Journal, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 28-31.

The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at http://www.altlj.org/index.php?option=Articles&task=viewarticle&artid=55