Forensic linguistics is a branch of applied linguistics that examines all the various ways that language and the law intersect. This could range from direct ways such as when a crime is committed based on what was said or written (e.g. a lie, a threat, sexual harassment, etc) to decisions about the best way to do an interpretation for a witness inside a courtroom. Where the law is concerned, language isn't merely a vehicle for conveying information, it is a precision tool wielded by wordsmiths who can often determine the outcome of a courtroom case simply by use of language.
My specific interest in this broad field has to do with courtroom discourse analysis as well as methods of articulating language rights. During my Ph.D. dissertation, I wondered how well judges in the Jamaican courtroom understood witnesses who were charged with a crime but had a minimal grasp of the English language. From my observations, while attending the Gun Court in Jamaica witnesses never asked for the services of an interpreter opting instead to use their lawyer as an ad hoc go-between the judge and themselves. Gun Court trials are judge only, so the final decision rests with the judges. Luckily for my research, the judges explain the rationale for their verdict, and what they understood from the case, in their summary. So my research focused on examining the judge's summations to see to what extent they correctly interpreted details from the witness testimony.
Since completing my dissertation I've done several consultancies concerning language issues involving Jamaican witnesses in Ontario courtrooms, as well as giving expert witness testimony in a Toronto murder trial. I have experience with transcription, translation, and analysis of courtroom-recorded audio and police write-tap evidence. If you think you have a case that might lend itself to linguistic analysis feel free to send an email to cive.forrester@uwaterloo.ca.
Link to ResearchGate page
What to expect when you start a consultation
When you hire me for forensic linguistic analysis, I will ensure that you receive a high level of service throughout the entire consultation process, which will be handled with the utmost professionalism and confidentiality.
The process typically begins with you sending me an email to describe the project you have in mind. It’s important to avoid including any sensitive details in this initial email. Once I have a better understanding of your needs, I will be able to provide you with a detailed estimate outlining the costs involved, typically broken down by an hourly rate.
At this stage, you will have the opportunity to approve the estimate or request any adjustments you feel are necessary. Once the estimate is approved, I will begin work on your project within the agreed timeframe.
Throughout the consultation process, I may request additional information from you to ensure a thorough analysis is completed. Once the analysis is complete, I will submit it to you for review.
Finally, upon completion of the project, I will send you an electronic invoice for your payment.
Confidentiality
Please note that I understand the sensitive nature of forensic linguistic analysis, and I will treat all information you share with me with the strictest confidence.
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You’ve got questions. I’ve got answers.
Forensic linguistics is the application of linguistic knowledge and analysis to the law and legal contexts. A forensic linguist examines language within legal documents, police interviews, social media posts, and more to provide insights into a case.
No. As long as the case involves languages and discourse styles I'm familiar with (Jamaican, English, and other English-based Caribbean Creoles) I should be able to do an analysis.
Trademark disputes (Was this slogan copied?)
Threat assessment (Is there a credible threat in this text message?)
Author identification and profiling (Who likely wrote this anonymous document?)
Contract disputes (Is the language of this agreement ambiguous or misleading?)
Confession analysis (Were the suspect's language rights understood? Was the statement voluntary?)
Misconception: Forensic linguists are NOT lie detectors. While language patterns can be revealing, they cannot definitively prove whether someone is telling the truth or not.
Misconception: Forensic linguists analyze the language itself, not physical handwriting. Handwriting analysis is done by a forensic document examiner, a different area of expertise.
Forensic linguists can offer evidence about the meaning and interpretation of language
They can help identify an author or compare different communication samples.
They can analyze language patterns to uncover potential bias, manipulation, or threats.
If a case heavily involves the interpretation of language, the author of a text is disputed, or if the language seems to be used deceptively, then a forensic linguist can provide valuable insights.
Translations and transcriptions, yes. But I haven't done a courtroom interpretation before. This requires a specific kind of training.
Yes. I've done an expert witness testimony for a murder case in Toronto.
Yes! Forensic linguists can analyze online language to:
Help determine authorship of social media posts or threats
Uncover signs of cyberbullying or harassment
Provide insights into an individual's linguistic profile or online identity
Ask "Q" anything about work that I've published in the field of linguistics.
Check out a couple of my books that deal with different aspects of how language intersects with the law.
Studies in Caribbean Language
This volume brings together the work of six authors who explore various dimensions of language rights and how they intersect with social justice in the Caribbean context. Language rights advocacy has been an ongoing issue in Caribbean linguistics since at least the 1970s when the Society for Caribbean Linguistics was established and linguists started to turn their attention to the marginalised status of Creole languages in the region. This continued into the 1990s when dismal scores in secondary school English resulted in governments singling out Creole languages as the culprit and linguists had to get involved in shaping language policy for territories across the region. By 2011 the role of linguists was cemented in the language rights debate with the creation of the Charter on Language Rights in the Creole-speaking Caribbean. Using examples from Jamaica and St. Lucia, the current study examines the challenges that still persist ten years after the Charter, specifically in the areas of language advocacy, linguistic discrimination, and communicative hurdles in the courtroom.
UWI, Press
Papers in Honour of Prof. Hubert Devonish
Honouring the remarkable career of Professor Hubert Devonish, a leading scholar in linguistics, language education, and cultural studies, Sounds of Advocacy, Language and Liberation provides a representative spread of linguistics addressing critical areas of academic and social responsibility through the exploration and analysis of theoretical and sociocultural concerns. Through his tireless research, Devonish illuminated the complexities of Caribbean Creole languages and championed their rightful place in academia and society.