The article examines the constraints that follow from the so-called "prohibition of analogy" for the judicial interpretation of penal legislation, rejecting the recourse to the "possible literal meaning" criterion. On the basis of the semantic pragmatism articulated by Brandom, it further analyzes the asymmetry of the relationship of reciprocal recognition that needs to hold between legislator and adjudicator so that it may be said that the latter applies norms produced by the former. After explaining the implications of this approach for the traditional contrast between analogy and "extensive interpretation", the article concludes by explaining why the legislator necessarily recognizes the authority of the judge concerning the semantic determinacy of statutory law.