La lexicographie juridique française comme véhicule de connaissance juridique et de compétence (juri)linguistique et communicative

Specialised lexicography is currently receiving increasing attention along the lines of the Modern Theory of Lexicographic Functions. Within this theory, lexicographic works may serve two main purposes: they may assist the intended user’s need to gather cultural and encyclopaedic information (knowledge-orientated function), or they may assist the intended user’s communicative needs (communication-orientated function) in active and passive language use. Based on the situated needs of their intended users, specialised dictionaries should strike a balance between the two and thus move away from the exclusive focus on knowledge-orientated functions and the construction of disciplinary knowledge which characterize traditional specialised lexicography. It is therefore the purpose of this paper to discuss the role played by communication-orientated functions in five compact legal dictionaries currently available on the French market, dealing with France’s juridical system.