Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2019
The use of abbreviations saves considerable time and space. This translates into savings in costs. However, one unfamiliar with abbreviations will lose considerable time in searching for their meanings.
1. This problem was part of the topic of Section VII (Computers) of the XIIth International Congress of Comparative Law in Sydney/Melbourne 1986.Google Scholar
2. - 29 Abs. 1 Satz 5 GGO II (GGO II = Gemeinsame Geschäftsordnung der Bundesministerien, Besonderer Teil, in der Bekanntmachung vom 15.10.1976 = GMBl. S. 550).Google Scholar
3. Published as Beilage 188a zum Bundesanzeiger (BAnz.) vom 9.10.1991: Bekanntmachung des Handbuchs der Rechtsförmlichkeit vom 10.6.1991, Rdnr. 231-238.Google Scholar
4. Verfügung 1410 “über Zitate und Abkürzungen” vom 1.7.1957.Google Scholar
5. Zitierkatalog vom 17.5.1982.Google Scholar
6. Cf. GMBl. 1990 p. 561.Google Scholar
7. E.g. Zentrale Dienstvorschrift 64/10 der Bundeswehr.Google Scholar
8. The Institute is a private association whose members are companies and associations. The emphasis of its activities lies on the unification of technical standards. Its procedure resembles parliamentary proceedings. Since DIN-standardized rules are the result of private endeavors, they do not have the authority of legal provisions. They have a direct general effect only insofar as a merchant offers his merchandise according to “DIN….” Then the requirements of the respective standardization become part of the contract. In an indirect way, standardizations become effective when the legislator refers to them in a legal provision. This is often the case in the technical field. It has not happened, however, for legal abbreviations. Cf. in detail: Merseburger, Peter: Die Regeln der Technik im Recht, 1979, S. 197-205.Google Scholar
9. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a private association according to Swiss law with 14 national organizations of standardization as members. ISO widely resembles the organizational pattern of DIN. Cf. Merseburger, Fn. 8, p. 236–239.Google Scholar
10. Juristisches Informations system JURIS, Abküirzungsverzeichnis, Bd. 1, 4. Aufl. 1983.Google Scholar
11. According to a letter by Beuth, publisher of the “DIN-Normen.”Google Scholar
12. Kirchner, Hildebert: Abkürzungsverzeichnis der Rechtssprache. 4. Aufl. 1993.Google Scholar
13. BAnz. (fn. 3) Rdnr. 97-131.Google Scholar
14. Rabels Zeitschrift für ausländisches und internationales Privatrecht, Gesamtregister für Jahrgang 35 (1971) - 44 (1980) und Zeitschriftenverzeichnis sowie kurze Hinweise für Autoren, 1985, p. 283–295.Google Scholar
15. Cf. draft of DIN 31620, 1976, p. 2.Google Scholar
16. Duden Rechtschreibung der Deutschen Sprache, 20. Aufl. 1991, p. 17.Google Scholar
17. Verfügung über eine einheitliche Form für Zitate von Entscheidungen, Gesetzen und Schrifttum vom 8.1.1951, p. 2.Google Scholar
18. Verfügung (fn. 4) p. II.Google Scholar
19. Kirchner (fn. 12) p. XIII.Google Scholar
20. For the full wording, see the list of abbreviations at the end of this article.Google Scholar
21. See fn. 3.Google Scholar
22. See fn. 4 and 5.Google Scholar
23. Tettinger, Peter J.: Einführung in die juristische Arbeitstechnik, 2. Aufl. 1992, p. 215–220; Hirte, Heribert: Der Zugang zu Rechtsquellen und Rechtsliteratur, 1991, p. 49-50, 88, 103–104.Google Scholar
24. Handbuch der Rechtsförmlichkeit (fn. 3) Rdnr. 78-79.Google Scholar
25. Examples taken from: Die Europäische Union, by Bengt Beutler, Roland Bieber, Jörn Pipkorn, Jochen Streil, 4. Aufl. 1993.Google Scholar
26. Leistner, Georg: Über die Veröffentlichungspraxis oberster und höherer Gerichte in Westeuropa, 1975, p.11.Google Scholar
27. According to: Die Europäische Union by Bengt Beutler, Roland Bieber, Jörn Pipkorn, Jochen Streil, 4. Aufl. 1993.Google Scholar
28. Cited according to Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation, 3. ed. 1992, p.88.Google Scholar
29. All cited according to Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation (fn. 28) cover pages.Google Scholar
30. Cited according to Friedl, Gerhard/Loebenstein, Herbert: Abkürzungs- und Zitierregeln der österreichischen Rechtssprache (AZR) samt Abkürzungsverzeichnis, 3. Aufl. 1994, Rdnr. 32.Google Scholar
31. Cited according to Guide des citations, références et abbréviations juridiques, 1990, P- 21.Google Scholar
32. Cited according to Juridische verwijzingen en afkortingen, 2. uitg. 1987, p. 11.Google Scholar
33. Revised Statutes of Canada.Google Scholar
34. Eg- “Halsbury's Statutes of England” or “Statutes in Force.”Google Scholar
35. Dane, Jean; Thomas, Philip A.: How to use a law library, 2. ed. 1987, p. 41; Blumenwitz, Dieter: Einführung in das anglo-amerikanische Recht, 4. Aufl. 1990, p. 88.Google Scholar
36. Leistner, Georg: Arbeitshilfen zum französischen Recht, 1974, p. 107.Google Scholar
37. All cited according to Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation, 3. ed. 1992, cover pages.Google Scholar
38. Cited according to Guide des citations, références et abréviations juridiques, 1990, p.31Google Scholar
39. Cited according to Juridische verwijzingen en afkortingen, 2. uitg. 1987, p. 16.Google Scholar
40. Cited according to Friedl (fn. 30) Rdnr. 56.Google Scholar
41. Cited according to Oftinger, Karl: Vom Handwerkszeug des Juristen und seiner Schriftstellerei, 7. Aufl. 1986, p. 153.Google Scholar
42. They have been edited since 1865 by the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting and today comprise the following parts: “Appeal Cases”, “Chancery Division”, “Queen's Bench Division”, and “Family Division.”Google Scholar
43. Cf., e.g., “All England Law Reports” or “Lloyd's Law Reports.”Google Scholar
44. Official reporters are, e.g., Canada Supreme Court Reports = S.C.R., and Canada Law Reports, Exchequer Court = Ex.C.R.Google Scholar
45. Die Europäische Union (fn. 27) p. 249; for an example see Kutscher, Über den Gerichtshof der Europäischen Gemeinschaft, EuR 1981, 392-413 (400).Google Scholar
46. The full title reads like this: Catalogue des sources de documentation juridique dans le monde/ A Register of Legal Documentation in the World. Prepared by the International Association of Legal Science and the International Committee for Social Sciences Documentation. 2nd ed., revised and enlarged. Paris: UNESCO, 1957. 423 p. - For details, see Gödan, Jürgen Christoph: International Legal Bibliographies, 1992, p.259-267.Google Scholar
47. European Law Libraries Guide/ Guide européan des bibliothäques de droit. Prepared by the International Association of Law Libraries under the Auspices of the Council of Europe. S.l.: Morgan-Grampian 1971. 678 p.Google Scholar
48. The Bluebook - A Uniform System of Citation, 15. ed., p. 234–237.Google Scholar
49. The “Gro$Sze Senate” und the “Vereinigte Gro$Sze Senat” of the “Bundesgerichtshof” are of so little practical importance that they need not be mentioned. If they are mentioned, however, the description should be clear: the “Reichsgericht” is not a predecessor to the “Vereinigte Gro$mde Senate” (but to the “Bundesgerichtshof”) and therefore resolved no conflicts between the “Gro$mde Senate”, supra note 48, p. 234.Google Scholar
50. Eight lines are devoted to the “Oberste Gerichtshof für die Britische Zone”, supra note 48, p. 234.Google Scholar
51. The list of “Periodicals in Foreign Languages”, supra note 48, p. 294–295 includes only two West German law reviews, which are not frequently cited at all: “Der Gesellschafter” und “Neue Zeitschrift für Arbeits- und Sozialrecht” which is abbreviated as “Neue Z. Arbeits- & SozialR” instead of “NZA.” The most widely circulated legal periodical, “Neue Juristische Wochenschrift (NJW)”, is not mentioned.Google Scholar
52. E.g., “LG” for “Landesgesetz” or “LVO” for “Landesverordnung”, supra note 48, p. 236.Google Scholar
53. Treaties and conventions must be primarily cited according to “Bundesgesetzblatt”, Teil 2” (BGBl. II), not to “Verträge der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.”Google Scholar
54. For the layout and the manner of presentation, the “Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation” can be recommended. Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation. Manual canadien de la référence juridique, 3. ed. 1992. This guide also includes some international materials: treaties, cases, UN documents, documents of other international organizations. As far as national jurisdictions are concerned, UK, France, and the USA are covered.Google Scholar
55. Published in Inti. J. Legal lnfo. 21 (1993) 4-6.Google Scholar