An MIT study on “legalese” suggests this convoluted language acts to convey a sense of authority in legal documents. The researchers also found that even non-lawyers use legalese when asked to write laws.
The best way I can explain this to a layman will only work if you watch american football.
What is a “catch”?
We can call a catch a catch, but unless we go further and state things like “must have control of the ball”, “must have one foot inbounds” etc etc etc, we have an incomplete rule that will allow for things we did not intend. So we narrow the existing rule, because ostensibly it is what we meant, but we need to be more specific to communicate the full idea than we originally believed.
In basketball… What is a travel? Seems straightforward…
The best way I can explain this to a layman will only work if you watch american football.
What is a “catch”?
We can call a catch a catch, but unless we go further and state things like “must have control of the ball”, “must have one foot inbounds” etc etc etc, we have an incomplete rule that will allow for things we did not intend. So we narrow the existing rule, because ostensibly it is what we meant, but we need to be more specific to communicate the full idea than we originally believed.
In basketball… What is a travel? Seems straightforward…
For this reason, I maintain that “The Lawyer” would be a more fitting nickname for James Harden than “The Beard”.