Reviews for the first edition: Mattila's fascination with the law is well conveyed through clear articulation of the structures and processes underpinning various legal systems...this is an excellent book for advanced undergraduates and postgraduates working in any field related to language and the law. Annabelle Mooney, International Journal for the Semiotics of Law This exceptional book constitutes a fine source of learning for comparative lawyers, lawmakers (especially European lawmakers), linguists and historians but also a great inspiration for legal practitioners and legal translators and interpreters who are willing to look beyond the confines of their own legal system. Franz J. Heidinger, Translatio (FIT) Mattila proves in his work that comparative legal studies can be fruitfully approached from the linguistic point of view...The emerging global law will need a new language and works like Mattila's are fundamental to its development. Marcus Galdia, The European Legal Forum This admirable tome reveals and analyses the common synchronic and diachronic features of legal languages. Its scope is wide, encompassing the two major legal systems and four major legal languages - the entirety suffused with examples, linguistic and legal, sourced in numerous other languages. The author displays a rare mastery of both the legal and linguistic sides of his subject. MĆ”irtĆn Mac Aodha, Meta:Translators' Journal Reviews for the second edition: '... It is dense (in the nicestpossible sense) and comprehensive: both the writing and the translation of such a detailed, precise and thorough work cannot fail to impress. ... Mattila's masterpiece doubtless does deserve the attention of anyone concerned with the role of language in practising law, interested in comparing international and national legal systems, or motivated to explore linguistics in a range of contexts, from law to politics.' Clarity '... as far as one can see, Mattila's work is the o