Legalese: What For? for Whom? Reflections on the Culture of Convoluted Legal Language in Brazil
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: "Juridiques" (convoluted legal jargon) has become entrenched in the culture of legal language in Brazil. Consequently, there is growing debate regarding the tension between elaborate writing styles and simplified language, given that such jargon can prevent segments of the population—particularly the economically or socially disadvantaged—from understanding the law. Against this backdrop, this article aims to analyze "juridiques" within the Brazilian context, considering its status as a fixture of legal culture and its impact on communication between the legal system and society. This is a descriptive, reflective study employing a qualitative approach, based on a literature review and document analysis. The findings indicate that this culture hinders the realization of constitutional principles; while the Constitution establishes equality for all, communication mechanisms remain controlled by legal practitioners, thereby impeding the full exercise of rights by limiting the public's comprehension of legal language. The study concludes that this landscape is shifting, with changes extending to normative acts—such as resolutions—that guide legal professionals to simplify the language used in their texts and other forms of communication.
Language: English
Subfield: Law
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7168023506