laws written around (something)

[Ostap]

I don't know when the soul enters, or what the soul is, or whether I even believe in the soul, but I did like this movie. I'm so glad our laws are being written around this mystery riddle.
link with timecode

Hello. What does it mean when laws are said to be "written around" something?

 

[jutfrank]

It's not a particular usage that you should worry about. The speaker just uses around to mean that there's a relation between the abortion law and the notion of a soul.

 

[Ostap]

It's not a particular usage that you should worry about. The speaker just uses around to mean that there's a relation between the abortion law and the notion of a soul.

Can we know what point is she making? There's probably no mention of the "soul" in abortion-related legislation. She says she is "glad". Why is it?

 

[jutfrank]

There probably no mention of the "soul" in abortion-related legislation.

There probably is, indirectly. One of the Christian arguments against abortion involves their idea of a soul, and at what point exactly it enters a foetus' body.

One of our American members will know about this legislation much more than I do.

She says she is "glad". Why is it?

Sarcasm.

 

[probus]

The recent trend in America to substitute "around" for "about" in such contexts is extremely annoying to me and, I imagine, to many others. But it IS a trend and as our language continues to evolve we just have to grin and bear it.

 

[Ostap]

The recent trend in America to substitute "around" for "about" in such contexts is extremely annoying to me and, I imagine, to many others. But it IS a trend and as our language continues to evolve we just have to grin and bear it.

Do you mean it's the literal meaning of "about" as in "write a book about politics"?

 

[probus]

Yes. They are using "around" as a preposition to mean "about".

@jutfrank. It's not about legislation, however. They are discussing judge-made law. The US Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision very soon on whether to uphold or restrict women's right to an abortion, which was first established in the case of Roe v. Wade. A supposed draft of the court's decision has been leaked in the last few days.

 

[Tdol]

Hello. What does it mean when laws are said to be "written around" something?

Based on IMO.