School of English
Forensic Linguistics: Module Handbook
Autumn 2014-2015
Module convenor:
Charlotte Taylor
Room:
Arts B245
Tel:
(87) 3173
E-mail:
[email protected]
Office hours:
Tuesday
17.00-18.00
Wednesday
15.00-16.00
A. Module description
Overview
In this module we look at the interaction between linguistics and the law and more specifically we
focus on the face-threatening strategies of deception, manipulation and aggression. This is a practical
module in which we study the ways that linguistics can be applied in non-academic contexts. We start
by examining the role of the linguist as an expert witness in the legal system and in this section we
focus on the use of stylistics in investigating disputed authorship, for instance in missing person
cases. We also examine and evaluate research into linguistic markers of deception. In the second
part of the module, we analyse the language used in the legal process, with a particular focus on
courtroom discourse and police interviews. In this part, students will visit a courtroom and report back
on the language practices they observed. We will describe the norms of courtroom discourse with
particular reference to the pragmatic and discourse features. Subsequently, we focus on the ways in
which certain groups may be linguistically disadvantaged in that process and how they are, or could
be, protected from discrimination.
Learning objectives
By the end of this module, you should be able to:

Critically appraise different linguistic approaches to authorship attribution and identification of
deception

Describe the dynamics of interactions in police interviews/courtroom discourse with reference
to pragmatic and narrative features

Discuss the ways in which particular social groups may be linguistically disadvantaged by the
structure of courtroom discourse

Identify the linguistic features which contribute to a perception of complexity in legal language
Teaching/Learning structure
This module is taught by one 50-minute lecture and one 50-minute seminar. You are expected to
attend and participate in both. Lectures are usually supported by PowerPoint slides, which can be
downloaded from Study Direct shortly before or after the session. Seminar activities are generally
based on the topic of the previous lecture and seminar preparation tasks will be made available on
the day of the lecture. Seminar activities vary from week to week, and may include: opportunity to
discuss and ask questions about the material from lecture/reading, presentation(s) by students,
discussion of exercises prepared beforehand, group work on exercises provided in seminar.
Expectations
You are expected to attend all lectures and seminars, complete the required reading and preparation
tasks, including participation in the Study Direct forums. Please note that in Week 5 you are expected
to complete a courtroom observation task and in Week10 you will be asked to lead part of the
seminar.
Be aware of the definitions and consequences of academic misconduct - and don’t commit
misconduct! Misconduct includes plagiarism (using other people’s words or ideas without proper
attribution) and collusion (working with someone else on an assignment without the permission of the
tutor). You are absolutely responsible for knowing and using this information.
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/studentlifecentre/academic/academicmisconduct
Schedule
Week 1: Introduction to forensic linguistics
Week 2: Authorship attribution
Week 3: Authorship attribution
Week 4: Deception
Week 5: Visit to courtroom & online discussion
Week 6: Language in the legal process: Introduction
Week 7: Reading week
Week 8: Courtroom discourse: Focus on questions
Week 9: Courtroom discourse: Focus on responses
Week 10: Vulnerable participants (student presentations)
Week 11: Making legal language accessible: Jury instructions
Week 12: Tutorials
Variation to the schedule: There is no lecture in Weeks 5 and 10. In Week 5 the seminar discussion
will take place online. In Week 10 you will be scheduled for an additional seminar and tutorial.
B. Assessment
This module is assessed by a 3000-word portfolio. Your portfolio is marked is a whole and you must
demonstrate achievement of the learning objectives listed above. You should also refer to the English
Language Marking Grid. The portfolio is due at the end of the teaching period (check Sussex Direct
for your assessment deadline) but you are strongly advised to prepare the individual components in
advance of this deadline, the tasks will be released sequentially to facilitate this.
Portfolio component
1. Text analysis: authorship
Word limit
1400
Task release date
Week 4
2. Text analysis: power
800
Week 9
3. Complexity & disadvantage
800
Week 1
NB In addition to the usual office hours, I will be available for extra tutorials at the times of the
lectures/seminars in Weeks 5 and 12.
C. Reading
Recommended introductions/overviews
Coulthard, M. & A. Johnson. 2007. An Introduction to Forensic Linguistics: Language in Evidence.
London: Routledge. [ebook available]
Coulthard, M. & A. Johnson. 2010. The Routledge Handbook of Forensic Linguistics London:
Routledge. [ebook available – useful for reference]
Eades, D. 2010. Sociolinguistics in the Legal Process. Multilingual Matters. [only covers the second
part of the module]
Gibbons, J. 2004. Forensic Linguistics: An Introduction to Language in the Justice System. Oxford:
Blackwell.
Mooney, A. 2014. Language and Law. Palgrave Macmillan.
Olsson, J. & J. Luchjenbroers. 2014. Forensic Linguistics. Bloomsbury.
The recommendations here are intended to help you get started, you should then use them to identify
more specialist sources. You should also check for recent journal articles on your topic – bear in mind
that most books were probably written two years before publication. Additional recommendations will
be made in lectures.
Week
1
Topic
Overview of forensic linguistics
Recommended reading
Olsson & Luchjenbroers 2014, Ch. 1
2
Language as evidence: Introduction
Mooney 2014, Ch. 7
Coulthard & Johnson. 2007, Ch 6
Gibbons 2004, Ch 9
2-4
Language as evidence: Authorship
& deception
6
Language in the legal process:
Introduction
8-9
Language in the legal process:
spoken interactions
Olsson & Luchjenbroers 2014, Parts 1 & 2
Mooney 2014, Ch. 8
Coulthard & Johnson. 2007, Ch 7-9
Coulthard & Johnson (eds). 2010. Chs 25, 31-34
Mooney 2014, Ch. 2
Coulthard & Johnson. 2007, Ch 2
Coulthard & Johnson (eds). 2010. Chs 2-4
Gibbons 2004, Ch 2
Mooney 2014, Ch. 4-5
Olsson & Luchjenbroers 2014, Ch 13-14
Coulthard & Johnson. 2007, Ch 4-5
Coulthard & Johnson (eds). 2010. Chs 8-12, 14
Gibbons 2004, Chs 3-4
Eades, D. 2010. Most chapters.
10
Vulnerable / potentially
disadvantaged witnesses
Mooney 2014, Ch. 6
Olsson & Luchjenbroers 2014, Ch. 15
Coulthard & Johnson (eds). 2010. Ch 20
Eades 2010, Ch. 4,5,8
Gibbons 2004, Chs 6-7
11
Language in the legal process: jury
instructions
The law on language
Coulthard & Johnson (eds). 2010. Ch 17
12
Gibbons 2004, Ch 8