Applications of Forensic Linguistics

Types of cases that Forensic Linguists often deal with:

• authorship identification
• plagiarism
• word meaning
• trademark
• criminal activities (bribery, extortion, solicitation, etc.)
• contract disputes/ insurance/ fraud, etc.
• jury instructions
• non-English language cases
• perjury
• copyright infringement
• plain language
• legal language

Some applications of Forensic Linguistics:

• analysis of meaning of words in contracts, statutes, and laws
• the search for "ordinary meaning"
• analysis of meaning of non-language symbols (e.g., cross-burning)
• speech-act analysis of language claimed to constitute confessions, threats, and conspiracy
• analysis of covert tape recordings
• lipreading interpretations of videotapes
• secret language and code analysis; slang and jargon
• establishment of possible authors of documents through grammatical and stylistic analysis (e.g., could person X have authored document Y?)
• analysis of presuppositions in questions by investigators and attorneys
• schema analysis in linguistic processing
• language and memory
• readability and information presentation of instructions and warnings
• sociolinguistic analysis of code-switching, forms of address, convergence and divergence

Examples of applications:

(1) Objectively establish the meaning of wording in a contract, statute or decision, e.g., “Spanish surname,” “the complete loss of sight of both eyes,” “consent.”

(2) Scientifically compare language samples to indicate whether a certain person could have authored a particular ransom note, threatening letter, confession, or will.

(3) Apply well-established “speech-act” standards to taped conversations to determine whether, say, a “threat” or “offer of a bribe,” actually occurred.