WHAT IS LINGUISTICS ?

Linguistics is the scientific study of language. It's like being a detective for languages,
investigating how they work, how they change over time, and how we learn and use them.
Linguists, the experts in this field, aim to understand the nature of language in general.

Now, let's break down some of the key components of linguistics:

1. Phonetics: This is all about the physical sounds in speech. Phonetics looks at how these
sounds are made and heard.
2. Phonology: This branch focuses on the way sounds function within particular languages.
3. Morphology: This is the study of the internal structure of words.
4. Syntax: Syntax is all about sentence structure and how words come together.
5. Semantics: This branch deals with meaning. It looks at how words, phrases, and sentences
create meaning.
6. Pragmatics: This is the study of how context influences the way language is interpreted.

There are also several interdisciplinary branches of linguistics, including:

1. Historical Linguistics: This branch looks at how languages change over time.
2. Sociolinguistics: This field studies how language varies and changes in social groups.
3. Psycholinguistics: This branch explores how language is processed in the brain.
4. Applied Linguistics: This field uses linguistic research to solve real-world problems.
5. Computational Linguistics: This branch involves using computers to process human
language.

WHAT IS FORENSIC LINGUISTICS ?

Forensic linguistics is a branch of applied linguistics that involves the application of linguistic
knowledge and methods to legal and criminal issues. As a discipline, forensic linguistics
involves analyzing spoken and written language to look for evidence that can be used in a legal
case

Prosecutors and lawyers can use forensic linguistics when compiling evidence to help them
prove who is innocent and who is guilty based on idiosyncratic language use ; however, this
isn't the only use of forensic linguistics.

ROLE OF A FORENSIC LINGUIST

A forensic linguist is a language expert who assists in criminal and civil investigations by
analyzing written and spoken language evidence. They perform language analysis on written or
recorded documents to help solve crimes.

Forensic linguists can help in various ways:

1. Identify the author of a piece of writing.

2. Determine whether a person is telling the truth in a written or spoken statement.
3. Study dialect, grammar, sentence construction, phonetics, and other linguistic areas to
determine authenticity and ensure correct interpretation.

There are principally three areas of application for linguists working in forensic contexts:

1. Understanding the language of the written law.

2. Understanding language use in forensic and judicial processes.
3. The provision of linguistic evidence.

A REAL LIFE CASE

Linguistic analysis can be a powerful tool in solving crimes, and the case of the Zodiac Killer is a
prime example of this. The Zodiac Killer was a serial murderer who terrorized Northern
California during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Here's how linguistic analysis was used in this
case:

1. Decoding Ciphers: The Zodiac Killer sent a series of letters to newspapers containing
cryptograms. Four distinct ciphers were sent, but only one, dubbed Z408, has been definitively
solved. The cipher was solved by a teacher and his wife, Donald and Bettye Harden, using
frequency analysis, spotting plausible phrases, and deciphering the message based on
substitutions from the identified phrases.

2. Analyzing Written Documents: The Zodiac Killer's letters were analyzed for handwriting
samples and latent fingerprints. The FBI's forensic experts were enlisted to analyze these
samples.

3. Signature Analysis: Investigators used signature analysis to analyze the crime scenes’
distinctive characteristics, including using cryptograms, taunting letters to the press and law
enforcement, and the killings’ execution.

4. Language Use: The Zodiac Killer used specific language patterns in his letters. For instance,
he used the present perfect tense of "have had" rather than the past tense of "had", which
provided insights into his linguistic style.

5. Concealing True Handwriting and Linguistic Style: Throughout the authentic letters, Zodiac
made obvious attempts to conceal his true handwriting and linguistic style. Some examples
include intentionally misspelling words, printing instead of using cursive, intentionally changing
the way he prints certain letters, using terms such as “shall,” etc.

Despite these efforts, the Zodiac Killer's identity remains a mystery. However, the linguistic
analysis provided valuable insights into his motives and methods, and continues to be a crucial
part of the ongoing investigation
REFERENCES
➔ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistics

➔ https://linguistics.ucla.edu/undergraduate/what-is-linguistics/

➔ https://www.learncram.com/education/branches-of-linguistics/

➔ https://www.careers360.com/articles/branches-of-inguistics-counar

➔ https://www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/english/linguistic-terms/forensic-
linguistics/#:~:text=Forensic%20linguistics%20is%20a%20branch%20of%20applied
%20linguistics%20that%20involves,used%20in%20a%20legal%20case.