Université de Montréal - Thèse sous forme numérique

253are not responsible for applying the law, can be subdivided into two types: the ARGUER andthe PROTAGONIST.Parties in a case are called upon to explain why they are accusing someone, beingaccused by someone, appealing a decision, i.e. they have to argue their case. Providingarguments is both a right and a duty of the parties. When judges write a decision, they oftenhave to summarize the history of the case and refer to the argumentation provided by theparties in different moments of the lawsuit. They also have to provide arguments for theanalysis they make of the lawsuit, for the sources of law they choose to use to base theirdecision as well as for the decision they reach. Whenever the parties and the judges providearguments for the aforementioned reasons they assume the role of ARGUER.The ARGUER is one of the core FEs of the frames [Argumentation], [Contesting],[Proof] and [Evidence]. It can refer to the accuser or to the defendant (in a criminal suit), tothe petitioner or to the respondent (in a civil suit) and even to the judge. Table 26 lists allthe linguistic realizations of the core FE ARGUER in the English corpus. As it can beobserved from the number in brackets, the terms that instantiate the role of the ARGUER aremost often: Crown, appellant, accused, plaintiff, and respondent. However, the ARGUERcan also be instantiated by terms denoting a different specialized nature such as court andjudge. Whereas the PROTAGONIST is anyone who plays a given role, i.e. the role of theaccused or of the accuser (criminal suit), the role of the petitioner or of the respondent (civilsuit) and even the role of the judge, the ARGUER is a PROTAGONIST who plays the specificrole of providing argumentation support. The ARGUER has the right and duty to presentarguments so as to keep the role of PROTAGONIST in different moments of the lawsuit.Therefore, the ARGUER is a type of PROTAGONIST and the PROTAGONIST becomes theARGUER at certain moments of the lawsuit.