"This book investigates modern law's relation to language in the context of such divergent views. To those who ask, "What is law?" the book argues that answers today lie in exploring further law's relations to claiming and hearing. Claims assert truths and demand recognition. Law, like language, may deceive or He or go wrong in its claims. Further, law may mishear and be misheard. Modern law nevertheless shows great care for language. From the care that law accords to language, this book shows, one learns about speech; reciprocally, through language and speech, one learns about law. Both language and law bind us; they entangle and obligate us to one another and reveal the world to be one in which "our word is our bond". -- INTRODUCTION.