Forensic Linguistics Linguistics is the scientific study of language, in other words, it is the discipline that studies the nature and use of language. The field of linguistics is very broad and there are many areas of linguistics.
Definitions: “Forensic linguistics is the name given to a number of sub-disciplines within applied linguistics, and which relate to the interface between language, the law and crime. The range of topics is diverse: from the analysis of confessions to the language rights of ethnic minorities, from the assessment of threat in a ransom demand, to determining the genuineness of a suicide note.” (Wikipedia.com) The study of the language of the law, including the language of legal documents and the language of the courts, the police, and prisons; · The alleviation of language-based inequality and disadvantage in the legal system; · The interchange of ideas and information between the legal and linguistic communities; · Research into the practice, improvement, and ethics of expert testimony and the presentation of linguistic evidence, as well as legal interpreting and translation; · Better public understanding of the interaction between language and the law. (From the constitution of the IAFL)
Core Areas Authorship analysis Phonetic Voice Identification Investigative Interviewing Techniques Language in the Courtroom Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable Witnesses The first areas I want to mention are considered the core areas, they are the areas of linguistics that you must have some background in in order to pursue any type of linguistics career. So first off there is phonetics, which deals with the description and articulation of sounds in a language, and within phonetics there are 3 areas: one, articulatory, which deals with production, two, acoustic, which deals with physical properties, and three, auditory, which obviously deals with perception. The area of phonology is the study of the patterns of sounds in a language, basically how sounds are organized. So for example a phonologist would look at what type of sounds can occur next to each other at the beginning of a word. Morphology is the analysis of word formation, in other words, how existing words are formed and new ones created The analysis of sentence structure is called syntax, which deals with how words combine to form meaningful phrases. And lastly, semantics, which is the study of meaning within language, so it deals with conceptual systems. Phonetics – the description and articulation of sounds in a language there are 3 areas: articulatory (production), acoustic (physical properties), auditory (perception) Phonology – the patterns of sounds in a language; how sounds are organized Morphology – analysis of word formation; how existing words are formed and new ones created Syntax: analysis of sentence structure, how words combine to form meaningful phrases Semantics: the study of meaning within language; conceptual systems
Interested Parties: Law Enforcement Agencies: Civil Rights Activists: FBI SCAS Interpol Civil Rights Activists: Unicef Red Cross NAACP
Practitioners: Academics: Police Officers/Adjunct Investigators: Janet Cotterill (Courtroom Discourse, e.g. OJ Simpson trial) Roger Shuy (Concealment of Evidence, political language) ME! (Police Discourse, Investigative Questioning) Police Officers/Adjunct Investigators: D.S. Kerry Marlowe (Investigative Interviewing) Private Consultancy Agencies: Forensic Linguistics Institute (John Olsson) Institute for Linguistic Evidence (Carole Chaski)
Uses: Expert Witnesses Discourse Analysis: Written: Court Transcripts (miscarriage of justice, training of lawyers, etc.) Spoken: Maximising effectiveness of: Police Interviewing Techniques Cross Examination Witness Protection