Forensic Linguistics: A Study in Criminal Speech Acts

Abstract

This paper presents Forensic Linguistics (FL) as a relatively new field if it is compared to phonetics, syntax and other branches of linguistics. It is the interface between linguistics and law. It is an interdisciplinary field as it depends upon other fields like semantics, pragmatics, discourse analysis, critical discourse analysis, stylistics and phonology. The paper also proposes its history, development, importance and applications. Forensic linguistics is related to language crimes namely the crimes that are committed by means of language like bribery, perjury, conspiracy, solicitation, plagiarism and threatening. Finally, the conclusions are introduced, i.e. the cooperation between linguists and lawyers. Forensic linguistics, as a promising field, should be regarded and taught to university students and those who work in legal proceedings due to its high importance. Forensic linguistics has significant contributions to the legal context and field.

Keywords

• forensic
• cybercrime
• language crime
• criminology
• authorship identification
• perjury
• threatening
• and solicitation