Forensic Linguistics
Case Studies in Language and Law
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-0-631-22542-3 (ISBN)
Description
Forensic linguistics is defined as the application of linguistic theory and methodology to legal issues, especially those of a practical nature. The author illustrates, through first-hand experience with actual cases, the wide range of ways in which linguistics can and has illuminated questions of legal fact and interpretation.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Chicester
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-631-22542-3 (9780631225423)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Ronald R. Butters is Professor of Linguistics at Duke University. He publishes chiefly on American social and regional dialects, language theory, and linguistics and legal issues. He is general editor of American Dialect Society publications, as well as being the author of The Death of Black English: Divergence and Convergence in Black and White Vernaculars (Peter Lang, 1989) and co-editor (with John Clum and Michael Moon) of Displacing Homophobia: Gay Male Perspectives in Literature and Culture (Duke University Press, 1989).
Content
Part 1 Introduction: linguistics, linguists and American law: how legal language is different from normal language; the rules for use of legal language are different, too; the law is language; ethics. Part 2 The interpretation of legal language: contracts, statutes and constitutions cases; the man who shot his wife and then collected on his homeowner's insurance; the principle of proximity; Indian fishing rights; words that have changed their meaning; substantial assistance; pecuniary gain; desecration of graves; custodial care. Part 3 The interpretation of recorded speech: bribery, illegal offers, confessions, slander, lies, linguistic negligence cases; alleged bribery; the Lt governor; alleged extortion - the Israeli lawyer; alleged fraud - buying peanuts; alleged conspiracy - the bank clerk; alleged confessions - the distressed husband-killer, the disturbed brother-killer; alleged libel - the indiscrete evangelist; alleged perjury - the Secretary of Defense; alleged negligence - the lost fireman. Part 4 Clarity of interpretation: instructions and product warnings cases - the man who went for a walk in Antarctica; the man who heated his car with a kerosene heater. Part 5 The ownership of language: trademarks cases; r shuttle, sleep; Carmax and Car-x (Lexus and Lexis ); big dogs; out of the box; redskins. Part 6 The source of language: the identification of anonymous speakers and writers cases: did Dick phone Jane?; bov's famous case; h's case - is imitation possible?; poison pen letters at work; police plagiarism case. Part 7 The right to one's own language: free speech and censorship cases - drugs suck!; how private is your toilet?; ive Crew. Part 8 Abuses of language: disorder in court cases: jury instructions that kill; "What is about the Take Place is a murder"; "trigga happy nigga".