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Forensic LinguisticsIntroduction Most of the information on this page has been very kindly provided by forensic liguistics expert Carole Chaski PhD. Dr Chaski is director of the Institute for Linguistic Evidence. The Institute for Linguistic Evidence validates reliable document authentication techniques, identifies and rebuts junk science techniques, and provides assistance to investigators and attorneys in criminal and civil trials whenever the authorship of any document - a suicide note, threatening letter, patent brief, licensing examination essay, anonymous letter, ransom note, electronic message - is questioned or suspicious. Dr Chaski and her fellow (ILE) associates are the only forensic linguists in the United States to have won government funding for their forensic-linguistic research. Click Here To Visit The ILE Website What is Forensic Linguistics?
Dr Chaski notes that forensic linguistics applies the theories, constructs and analytical methods of linguistics to questions which arise in civil, criminal and security investigations and adjudication. She adds that an informed understanding of forensic linguistics requires familiarity with the broader application of linguistics as a social science. This is because virtually every linguistic nuanace has been examined within a legal context. These include: While there are many primary and secondary linguistic subfields, Dr Chaski makes the very important point that one should not be fooled into thinking that forensic linguistics relates to anything to do with language and the law, it does not. The primary difference between forensic linguistics and non-linguist methods is the scientific approach. In forensic linguistics, the scientific method requires hypothesis testing and a litigation-independent testing of the method for its accuracy. Further, these tests are performed with robust controls regarding data quantity, data sources and analytical objectivity.
The Forensic Linguist in Focus:
Education
Forensic Case Work
Dr. Chaski provides assistance in cases involving: Further Information
For details of some Dr Chaski's current research, along with some interesting results from previous research just click on the following link. For details of some of Dr Chaski's published work, along with links to related sites just click on the following link.
Essential Forensic Linguistics Reading
Speaking of Crime: The Language of Criminal Justice By L.M Solan & P.M Tiersma
Book Description Why do so many people voluntarily consent to searches by have the police search their person or vehicle when they know that they are carrying contraband or evidence of illegal activity? Does everyone understand the Miranda warning? How well can people recognize a voice on tape? Can linguistic experts identify who wrote an anonymous threatening letter? Speaking of Crime answers these questions and examines the complex role of language within our criminal justice system. Lawrence M. Solan and Peter M. Tiersma compile numerous cases, ranging from the Lindbergh kidnapping to the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton to the JonBenét Ramsey case, that provide real-life examples of how language functions in arrests, investigations, interrogations, confessions, and trials. In a clear and accessible style, Solan and Tiersma show how recent advances in the study of language can aid in understanding how legal problems arise and how they might be solved. With compelling discussions current issues and controversies, this book is a provocative state-of-the-art survey that will be of enormous value to legal scholars and professionals throughout the criminal justice system.
See following link for more details:
Speaking of Crime: The Language of Criminal Justice (Chicago Series in Law and Society) Visitors From The UK Click Here
Quality Forensic Linguistics Links
International Association of Forensic Linguistics
The International Association of Forensic Linguists (IAFL) is an organization which primarily consists of linguists whose work involves them in the law. In addition to linguists, others, particularly members of the legal profession, are also welcome to apply for membership. Aims of the IAFL include: Furthering the interests of linguists engaged in research on the development and practice of forensic linguistics; Disseminating knowledge about language analysis, and its forensic applications, among legal and other relevant professionals around the world; Drawing up a Code of Practice on matters such as giving evidence in court, writing official reports etc; Collecting a computer corpus of statements, confessions, suicide notes, police language, etc., which could be used in comparative analysis of disputed texts. Click Here To Visit The Website
The Forensic Linguistics Slideshow
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