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Doublets are parings of synonyms common in Legal English -- some would argue too common. Watch this week's lesson of the week to learn more.
due (adjective)
valid (adverb)
More information on the words discussed in the video, including sound files, examples of usage, common mistakes and encyclopaedic information, can be found in TransLegal's Legal English Dictionary.
Hi, my name is Angelique Vega and welcome to TransLegal's lesson of the week.
Today we're going to be discussing legal doublets, in other words, synonyms.
A legal doublet is a standard phrase consisting of two or more words used frequently in Legal English. Such phrases couple terms which are similar in meaning, for example, like a synonym. Many times the origin of these doublets can be attributed to the transition of the legal language that you had from Latin to French to English so a lot of these words just carried on and they were paired together. Nowadays many modern scholars think that we should do away with the doublets because they're unnecessarily redundant. Nevertheless, they still exist so it's important that you recognise them and you're able to utilise them for purposes of interpretation.
Okay, one good example of a legal doublet is "due and payable". Due and payable simply means that it is payable; that it, it is due to be paid. Naturally, these words you see a lot of times in contract terms, they go together although meaning the same thing.
Another example is "final and conclusive". Again, final and conclusive simply means to put an end to a debate or question; something is final, it's conclusive, you've concluded it. Again, synonyms -- redundant but nevertheless seen and used together a lot within contracts.
Another example is "legal and valid". Well a valid contract is one that has been executed in accordance to the requisite legal formalities; it conforms with legal formalities so if it's valid, it is legal. Again, two words that mean the same thing in contractual terms but are often seen together in a doublet form.
As I said before, legal doublets, there are many of them. Try to recognise them but also recognise that they do mean the same thing.
Thank you for today. If you have any questions or comments, please place them below. Thanks again. Bye.
Hi Angelique
Thanks for pointing this out.
If I may be so bold, what would you do with a doublet when you come across one in translation? Would you:
(i) find and use two synonyms in the target language, even if they sound awkward when used together?, or
(ii) would you rather reduce a doublet to a single counterpat in the target language?, or
(iii) maybe any other idea?
Many thanks for your opinion
Could you please provide me with a list of most-used legal doublets? Thank you so much.
Is “unnecessarily redundant” a non-legal doublet?
))
I believe that in order to be a doublet the words involved need to belong to the same grammatical category: due and payable, null and void are all adjectives. Unnecessarily redundant (adverb+adjective) wouldn´t qualify as a doublet. Besides, redundant words may be used for emphasis and so they may be necessary. Unnecessary redundant would be a repetition that serves no purpose.
What I meant was: “unnecessarily redundant” means a repetition that serves no purpose.