Formation History of Criminal Law Terminology in Linguistics

Abstract

Criminal law terminology plays a crucial role in the legal system, shaping the precise expression and interpretation of legal norms. Its linguistic formulation reflects the evolution of legal thought and systems across history. The structural and semantic characteristics of criminal law terms have been extensively influenced by linguistic norms and the need for terminological precision. In modern linguistic studies, legal terms are increasingly examined from cognitive, pragmatic, and structural perspectives. Despite growing interest in legal linguistics, the historical formation, morphological features, and typological classification of criminal law terminology remain underexplored, particularly in relation to their grammatical stability and translation across languages. This study aims to analyze the historical development, morphological structure, and semantic precision of criminal law terminology, highlighting its clarity, unambiguity, and functional consistency within legal discourse. The findings show that most criminal law terms are structurally single-component and are valued for their stability and specificity. Two-component terms also appear frequently, often comprising noun, adjective, or adverb models that refine legal definitions. Additionally, arbitrary modification of legal terms by professionals undermines terminological consistency. The article presents a linguistically grounded analysis of criminal law terms as distinct from general vocabulary, emphasizing their systemic and unchanging nature within legal communication. Understanding the grammatical and semantic formation of legal terms is essential for maintaining the coherence of criminal law language and ensuring effective legal practice, translation, and education.