Solving `Passport Application` with Haskell

>written in arcane language, in various texts called "acts of parliament".

>British passports are issued to those who have a claim to British nationality under the British Nationality Act 1981.

Has the British language really evolved that much in the last 50 years?

The more obvious interpretation is that it’s written in a bureaucratic way that not everyone would understand.

Legal copy written in 2025 could be considered arcane.

It doesn’t mean the language of the time is hard to understand.

There was a law change about European Union citizens settlement scheme last week. It's a UK law which is like a tutorial for getting to play the passport game. Anyway, the following was written this year. It starts off by checking if you are a Lisp interpreter:

Changes to Appendix EU

APP EU1. In Annex 1, in sub-paragraph (a) of the definition of ‘continuous qualifying period’, after “(b)(i)(ee) below”, insert “(or unless sub- paragraph (b)(i)(ii) below applies)”.

APP EU2. In Annex 1, for sub-paragraph (b)(i)(ii) of the definition of ‘continuous qualifying period’, substitute:

“(ii) (where the person has limited leave to enter or remain granted under paragraph EU3 or EU3A of this Appendix) any period(s) of absence which did not exceed a total of 30 months in the most recent 60-month period, as at the date of application or (as the case may be) at the date on which, under paragraph EU4, the Secretary of State is considering whether to grant them indefinite leave to enter or remain under paragraph EU2 or (as the case may be) EU2A, without a valid application under this Appendix having been made; or

(jj) any period of absence due directly to an order or decision to which sub-paragraph (b)(iii) below refers, where that order or decision has been set aside or revoked; or”.

APP EU3. In Annex 1, for sub-paragraph (c)(v) of the definition of ‘continuous qualifying period’, substitute:

“(v) a relevant reference is concerned; or

(vi) sub-paragraph (b)(i)(ii) above applies, where, under paragraph EU4 of this Appendix, the Secretary of State is considering whether to grant the person indefinite leave to enter or remain without a valid application under this Appendix having been made”.

It’s arcane because it’s technical, legal language. British English as a whole has not meaningfully changed that much in just 50 years.

Arcane does not mean the same as archaic.

In addition to the sibling comments, this is a style of humourous writing. They're just saying that legislation is not straight forward to understand.