Legal Definitions - L.F.

L.F. stands for Law French.

Law French was a specialized dialect of Old French that served as the language of English courts and legal documents for several centuries, primarily from the Norman Conquest in 1066 until the 17th century. It developed as the language of the Norman rulers and legal professionals in England, evolving into a distinct legal jargon that combined French vocabulary with English grammatical structures and legal concepts. Although it is no longer a spoken language, its legacy persists in many English legal terms and phrases that are still used today in common law jurisdictions.

• Example 1 (Historical Court Records): A legal historian researching medieval English land disputes might encounter court rolls from the 13th century where the arguments presented by lawyers and the judgments issued by the court are meticulously recorded in Law French. These documents would detail the specifics of property ownership, feudal obligations, and legal procedures using terms like seisin (possession) or oyer and terminer (a commission to hear and determine cases).

  Explanation: This illustrates Law French as the primary language for official legal record-keeping and judicial proceedings during a significant historical period in England, demonstrating its practical application in the daily functioning of the legal system.

• Example 2 (Modern Legal Terminology): When a contemporary lawyer discusses personal movable property, they might refer to it as "chattels." The word "chattel" is a direct descendant of the Old French word "chatel," which was used in Law French to distinguish movable property from "real property" (land). Similarly, the term "tort" (a civil wrong) comes from the Law French word for "wrong" or "injury."

  Explanation: This demonstrates how Law French has contributed specific vocabulary that remains deeply embedded in modern English legal language, even though the language itself is no longer actively spoken or written by legal professionals.

• Example 3 (Historical Legal Concepts): In historical English common law, the legal status of a married woman was often referred to as a "feme covert." This term, meaning "covered woman" in Law French, signified that a woman's legal identity and property rights were largely subsumed under those of her husband upon marriage, a concept that had profound implications for her ability to enter contracts or own property independently.

  Explanation: This example shows how Law French was used to define and articulate fundamental legal concepts and statuses within the historical common law system, influencing how legal rights and responsibilities were understood and applied for centuries.