Diversity and Tolerance in Socio-Legal Contexts : Explorations in the Semiotics of Law

This book explores how the various disciplines of law and linguistics can help us understand the nature of 'Diversity and Tolerance' - both oral and written - and how it might be clarified to avoid fear, and conflicts. It presents and examines recent research and theories at national level and on the international scene.

Why is there so much resistance to recent issues of tolerance and diversity? Despite efforts of the international community to encourage open-mindedness, recent attempts at international, political and economic integration have shown that religious, cultural and ethnic tolerance and diversity remain under threat. The contributions in the volume reflect the growing importance of these issues and why resistance is so widespread. Part I addresses the relationship between the language of law and its power, whilst Part II explores the interplay of tolerance and diversity under visual, legislative and interpretative perspectives. This collection as a whole offers a combination of varied perspectives on the analysis, application and exploitation of laws and will be a valuable source of information for those interested in the general area of language and the law.