Linguistic Smuggling: Understanding "Non-Bona Fide" Presuppositions in Legal Pleadings
Lawyers often use presuppositions to present information as already accepted, strengthening their persuasive impact.
The LISP project studies a specific type, Non-Bona Fide True (NBFV) presuppositions, used to subtly introduce weak or unproven claims.
These devices exploit cognitive “shallow processing,” making information harder to question.
By identifying them through a dedicated tagset, the project promotes greater transparency in legal communication.