Licensed under: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
This is a beta version
HI-LING
LINGUISTICS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL
Module 12: Forensic Linguistics
Forensic linguistics is the application of linguistic knowledge and methods to legal issues and criminal investigations. It involves analyzing written and spoken language to provide insights into authorship, meaning, and intent, often in the context of legal disputes or criminal cases. This field can encompass a variety of tasks, such as examining threatening letters, analyzing witness statements, and interpreting legal documents. By bridging the gap between language and law, forensic linguistics plays a crucial role in the justice system.
Forensic linguistics is like the detective work of language. It combines language study with crime-solving techniques. Forensic linguists analyze written and spoken language to understand suspects better. This helps in criminal cases and ensures fairness in legal processes. The lessons ahead will dive into forensic phonetics, exploring topics such as figuring out who's speaking, comparing voices, and solving crimes. Get ready for exciting cases involving stolen chocolate recipes and secret cheese vaults!
In this lesson, we will focus on the profiling of a speaker. First, a dialectal classification is made to determine approximately which region the speaker comes from. A detailed speaker profile is then created, focusing on the differentiation of linguistic and phonetic characteristics.
​In this lesson we are going to look at the comparison of speakers. We will focus on using a program called Praat to make an ideal comparison between two or more voices. We are going to solve the case from the previous lesson, just by the methods of speaker comparison.
In cases where a witness can only hear the perpetrator of a crime without seeing them, police employ a method called "voice parade" as an investigative tool to identify the suspect in question. The witness is presented with a lineup of voice samples, including a recording of the suspect's voice and samples from individuals chosen by the police (referred to as foil samples) who possess similar voices to the suspect.
The lesson introduces the field of stylometry, which involves studying writing styles and authorship through linguistic and structural features. The basics of stylometry involve analyzing various types of written evidence to identify an author's unique writing style, considering elements such as word choice and sentence structure.
Final Quiz
What is the primary purpose of creating a speaker profile in forensic linguistics?
What can linguistic features indicate about a speaker?
What is the primary goal of forensic speaker comparison in the field of forensic linguistics?
a) To identify the suspect's physical appearance.
b) To determine the suspect's DNA.
c) To profile an unknown speaker based on phonetic and linguistic features.
d) To establish the suspect's alibi.
a) The speaker's medical history.
b) The speaker's average age.
c) The speaker's regional or social background.
d) The speaker's daily routine.
a) Identifying background sounds in audio recordings.
b) Matching voice patterns to known speakers.
c) Analyzing voice pitch and frequency.
d) Comparing two or more recordings to determine if they have the same speaker.
Which factors can affect someone's voice or way of speaking, making voice identification challenging?
What is the most challenging aspect of constructing a voice parade, as mentioned in the paragraph?
What does not happen as a consequence when a witness identifies a foil sample as the suspect or makes a false identification?
a) Visual disturbances
b) Weather conditions
c) Emotions like fear, happiness, or stress
d) Background music in audio recordings
a) Creating visual presentations
b) Gathering DNA evidence
c) Determining voice similarity
d) Analyzing the suspect's motive
In plagiarism detection using stylometry, what does the process of authorship attribution involve?
When analyzing a text for authorship attribution, why is the punctuation and grammar usage important?
a) The person who gave the foil sample would not go to prison.
b) The witness needs to pay a fine.
c) It would help the suspects exoneration.
d) The prosecution could not use the voice parade as evidence in court.
a) Comparing the text to random sources.
b) Counting the total words in the text.
c) Comparing the text to a known sample of the author's work.
d) Analyzing the background sounds in the text.
a) It reveals the author's emotional state.
b) It indicates the author's level of education.
c) It gives insights into the author's cultural background.
d) Proper grammar can indicate a level of education or attention to detail.