SUBSTANCE AND SEMANTICS IN THE AUDITOR'S STANDARD REPORT

The most recent effort at restating the auditor's standard report, SAS 58, is the most comprehensive statement of the auditor's role that has ever been adopted. It is an acknowledgment that the previous report had become an ineffective communication of the audit function and was perhaps too cautious in circumscribing the auditor's public responsibilities. This paper compares and analyzes the terminology of the standard report throughout the professions's history with particular emphasis on the recent years leading up to SAS 58. An exhibit compares the parallel terminology and the social, economic and political issues that resulted in each revision. Additionally, some assessment of the potential future changes to the report are presented.