Saif Khan

Lec 1 (Forensic)

1- What is meant by forensic linguistics?

Forensic linguistics is a field that combines linguistics and the legal system to
analyze written or spoken language in legal proceedings and investigations. Experts
in this field use linguistic analysis to help solve crimes and provide valuable evidence
in court. Indeed it is the application of linguistic methods or items in legal
proceedings to solve legal issues through written or spoken forms of data.

Forensic linguistics serves two main purposes:

1. Identification of Suspects or Witnesses:

Language analysis is used during investigations to help identify suspects or
witnesses. This involves examining language patterns and communication to narrow
down potential individuals involved in a crime.

2. Language as Evidence in Court:

Spoken or written language samples can be submitted as evidence in court
proceedings. This may involve analyzing the language used in documents,
recordings, or speech acts to support legal arguments.

Applications of Forensic Linguistics:

- Analysis of Non-Language Symbols:

Forensic linguists can analyze the meaning of non-language symbols, such as cross-
burning, to understand their implications and potential legal consequences.

- Speech-Act Analysis:
This involves studying the communicative intentions and effects of language, which
can be crucial in legal contexts.

- Analysis of Covert Tape Recordings:

Forensic linguists may examine covertly recorded conversations to extract meaning,
context, and intent.

- Lip Reading and Videotape Interpretations:

Language experts can assist in interpreting lip-reading evidence and analyzing the
content of videotapes, especially when verbal communication is involved.

Forensic linguistics plays a vital role in legal proceedings by providing linguistic

expertise to help resolve cases and clarify language-related issues.
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Techniques Employed in Forensic Linguistics

Forensic linguists use a range of techniques in their work, which include:

1. Handwriting Analysis:
This method helps reveal details about the author's identity, such as age and gender,
by examining the handwriting characteristics.

2. Linguistic Analysis:
Linguistic experts delve into various aspects of language, including grammar,
vocabulary, syntax, and writing style. By analyzing these elements, they can
potentially identify unique author-specific patterns and attributes.

3. Contextual Analysis:
The context surrounding the discovery of a written document or note is crucial. It can
provide valuable insights into the potential author, the purpose of the writing, and any
relevant circumstances.

4. Stylistic Analysis:
Forensic linguists scrutinize even subtle stylistic features in the text. These can
include recurring word choices, sentence structures, and other linguistic
idiosyncrasies that may help identify the author or suggest connections to other
writings.

These techniques are used collectively to analyze written or spoken materials to

assist in legal investigations, such as determining authorship or identifying potential
deception.

2- Special Terms

Ideological State Apparatus (ISA):

This concept comes from Marxist theory and refers to institutions and practices that
disseminate the ideology of the ruling class to maintain social control. Key areas in
this context might include media, education, and religion.

Repressive Ideological State Apparatus (RISA):

This term is often used in conjunction with ISA. RISA refers to institutions that use
force or coercion to maintain social control, such as the police or the military..
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Diacritic marks
Diacritic marks, also known as diacritics or accents, are symbols added to letters in
various languages to indicate specific phonetic or grammatical features. They can
change the pronunciation, stress, or meaning of a word.

These marks are commonly used in languages like French, Spanish, German, and
Portuguese, among others, to modify the sound or meaning of letters.
In English, diacritic marks are used less frequently compared to some other
languages. However, they can still appear in loanwords, names, or specialized
contexts.

Examples
Examples include the
1. acute accent (´)
2. grave accent (`)
3. circumflex (^)
4. umlaut (¨)
5. tilde (~)

1. Café: The acute accent (´) is used to indicate the pronunciation of the "e" as in
"kaf-ay."

2. Résumé: The acute accent over the first "e" highlights the pronunciation as "ray-
zoo-may."

3. naïve: The umlaut (¨) indicates that the "i" should be pronounced separately, as in
"nye-eev."

3- Forensic Text as Evidence

Forensic text as evidence covers all forms of text—spoken, signed, or written—used
in criminal investigations and legal cases. Examples include emergency calls,
ransom notes, text messages, and more. It involves tasks like identifying the author,
confirming document authenticity, analyzing style and dialect, assessing threats,
detecting plagiarism, recognizing voices, offering expert testimony, and addressing
ethical concerns. Ultimately, forensic text analysis plays a crucial role in revealing
truth and upholding justice in legal matters.

Sample text message

1. Suspect A to Suspect B:
- "Meet at the store at 11 PM. We'll go through with the plan."
- "Don't forget the masks and gloves. We can't leave any prints."
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2. Post-Robbery Messages:
- "We got away clean! Split the cash and lay low."
- "Did you stash the stolen goods in the usual place?"

3. Alibi Discussion with Accomplice:

- "Remember, we were at the party all night. Stick to the story."
- "Tell anyone who asks that we left the store way before the robbery."

Analysis of the sample text messages

1. Planning the Robbery:

- The first set of messages indicates clear intent to commit a crime. Suspect A and
Suspect B are discussing a meeting time and emphasizing the importance of
wearing masks and gloves, suggesting premeditation.

2. Post-Robbery Messages:
- These messages confirm criminal activity. The text mentions a successful
robbery and the division of stolen money, establishing a connection to the crime.

3. Alibi Discussion:
- These messages suggest an attempt to establish an alibi by claiming they were
at a party. This can be seen as an effort to distance themselves from the crime.

Forensic text analysis would delve deeper into these messages, considering factors
like the identities of the senders, the timestamps of the messages to establish the
timeline of events, and linguistic analysis to understand the intent and level of
involvement of each individual. This analysis helps law enforcement build a case
against the suspects and ensures that justice is served in a court of law.