Snodgrass vs. Pound debate

The Snodgrass vs. Pound debate centers on the role of linguistics in legal interpretation. Pound argued that courts should incorporate linguistic analysis to better understand legal texts and adapt laws to societal changes. Snodgrass contended that legal interpretation must prioritize established legal principles and stability over changing linguistic theories. Essentially, Pound emphasized a flexible, context-aware approach, while Snodgrass emphasized consistent legal doctrines. The debate reflects broader tensions between adapting law to language shifts versus maintaining legal certainty.