MA Linguistics

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Forensic Linguistics

Course unit fact file
Unit code LELA71632
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? Yes

Overview

This course introduces students to forensic linguistics and, more specifically, to the use of linguistics to provide evidence in criminal or civil cases. When language becomes evidence in a forensic case, a linguist can be called as an expert witness regarding various matters, such as, for example, the authorship of a text, the meaning of a particular word or phrase, or the modality of production of a text. The use of linguistic knowledge and methods can provide these answers and the aim of the course is to demonstrate how this can be done. Through the use of lectures and seminars, the course will develop the theoretical and applied knowledge for the students to carry out forensic linguistic analyses on real cases. In addition, students will learn the implications of this type of work for the field of linguistics in general.

Pre/co-requisites

Free choice and available for PG. Previous knowledge of linguistics, and in particular of corpus linguistics and sociolinguistics, is strongly recommended.

 

Aims

The principal aims of the course unit are as follows:

•          To learn how to apply linguistics to solve forensic problems

•          To know the state of the art of forensic linguistics

•          To understand basic concepts of individuality in language production

•          To be able to choose the correct linguistic techniques for the analysis of an applied problems

•          To understand the most important linguistic characteristics of forensic texts

Syllabus

The syllabus below is an indication only:

Week 1. Introduction to Forensic Linguistics

Week 2. The birth of Forensic Linguistics

Week 3. Idiolect and linguistic uniqueness

Week 4. Forensic authorship attribution

Week 5. Forensic authorship profiling

Week 6. Textual borrowing and plagiarism

Week 7. Language crimes

Week 8. Issues of meaning

Week 9. Linguistic evidence for trademark cases

Week 10. The linguist as expert witness

Week 11. Revision

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching for the course will include lectures and seminars in which real-life cases will be examined using the techniques and tools currently adopted by forensic linguists. Students will work independently on these cases and report on their work during each seminar.

Lecture and supporting materials will be made available on Blackboard.

Please note: In case this course will be (partially) taught online, the lecture content may be delivered via pre-recorded sessions and materials, which students can access in their own time, while the seminars will be conducted as interactive video conference sessions.

Knowledge and understanding

• Have an understanding of the basic methodologies to analyse texts in a forensic context

• Have an understanding of the register characteristics of malicious forensic texts

• Know the history of forensic linguistics

• Know the main findings related to key cases in forensic linguistics

• Understand the state of the art of individuality in language production

Intellectual skills

• Critically evaluate the literature regarding forensic linguistics

• Critically evaluate conclusions of a forensic linguistic analysis

• Be able to describe the language of a malicious forensic text

• Develop professional knowledge in the application of linguistic theory to naturally occurring texts

Practical skills

• Apply linguistic methods to solve forensic problems

• Develop professional knowledge in the analysis of texts for forensic purposes

• Develop general knowledge of the provision of evidence in court

Transferable skills and personal qualities

• Develop general problem solving skills

• Develop the verbal and written abilities to express conclusions

• Be able to apply linguistic theories to solve real-word problems

• Develop general knowledge of investigation procedures 

Employability skills

Other
With this course, students will learn skills that can be useful for applied linguistics and legal or investigative jobs. The kinds of skills used to analyse forensic texts can enhance the students¿ problem solving and critical abilities in employing linguistic theories to solve applied problems. As such, this course can help students to creatively employ their knowledge. Above all, students will learn how to carry out independent research and to solve real-life problems.

Assessment methods

Assessment Task

Formative or Summative

Weighting

Seminar Discussion

Formative

0%

Coursework

Summative

80%

Presentation

Summative

20%

 

Feedback methods

Feedback method

Formative or Summative

Seminar discussion

Formative

Written feedback for coursework

Summative

 

Recommended reading

Coulthard, M., & Johnson, A. 2007. An Introduction to Forensic Linguistics. London: Routledge

 

McMenamin, G. R. 2002. Forensic Linguistics: Advances in Forensic Stylistics. Boca Raton, Fla: CRC Press.

 

Olsson, J. 2003. Forensic Linguistics: An Introduction to Language, Crime and the Law. London: Continuum.

 

Shuy, R. 1996. Language Crimes: Use and Abuse of Language Evidence in the Court Room. Oxford: Blackwell.

 

Solan, L. M., & Tiersma. P. M. 2005. Speaking of Crime: The Language of Criminal Justice. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 22
Practical classes & workshops 5
Independent study hours
Independent study 123

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