Forensic Linguistics : Where Language meets Law
Introduction Forensic Linguistics is the study of how words, speech and writing can provide clues in investigation of criminal as well as civil cases. It is the analysis of given evidence such as anonymous letters, suicide notes or other things like emails to determine authorship, speaker or interpretation of legal documents. The admissibility of forensic linguistic evidence in court depends on the reliability, relevance and scientific validity. Only the qualified experts and evidence with proper chain of custody are preferred. Different countries have different legal standards. Gibbons (2001) : Forensic linguistics is the study of language in legal contexts, examining written and spoken communication to assist law enforcement, courts, and legal practitioners. Background : The term ‘‘forensic linguistics’’ was coined by Jan Svartvik in 1968 after analyzing the Timothy Evans case. He identified the difference...