'This book shows in convincingly elegant contributions how critical approaches to law have, independent from ideological or interest-driven criticisms, a semiotic foundation that provides a reconsideration of signs, symbols and meanings pertaining to social reality.' Jan M. Broekman, Penn State University, USA 'The distinguished editors have managed to bring together an impressive range of authors from four continents writing on a wide variety of topics linked to the book's central concern - disadvantage due to race, class, gender, religion, education, nationality, handicap, minority status and regional origin. This will be an excellent source book for postgraduate courses in the general area of Language and the Law.' Malcolm Coulthard, Aston University, UK