Forensic linguistics

In this chapter, we focus on forensic linguistics, a branch of applied linguistics which takes methods and insights from the academic discipline of linguistics and applies them to forensic texts and contexts. Structured into four sections, the chapter showcases different contexts that benefit from the expertise of forensic linguists. In the first section, we examine work on written legal language and the problems it can create for lay people. Second, we focus on studies on spoken legal interactions, such as police interviews, and discuss how they have contributed to improving communication. Third, we examine investigative contexts and discuss how linguistic analysis can assist law enforcement investigations. Finally, we focus on the new contexts, in border lands of forensic linguistics, where new work is being carried out. We examine these areas as marking the future for forensic linguistics.