LG364-6-SP-CO:
Forensic Linguistics
2023/24
Language and Linguistics
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
06 November 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
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(none)
In this module, we explore the ways in which linguistics intersects with public life.
Topics include how linguistic knowledge is used in legal settings, such as analysing courtroom discourse, determining authenticity, or using linguistic analysis to determine a person's country of origin, a person's identity, or the authorship of a text. This module may also cover how linguistic discrimination effects individuals, and the legal rights granted to specific languages and language users, and how important information is communicated to minority language users.
The aims of this module are:
• To introduce students to the ways in which language intersects with the law
• To apply methods of analysis learned in other linguistics modules to legal or other public-facing situations
• To promote an understanding of social justice and its intersection with language rights
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the ways language use affects individuals in legal, healthcare, and employment settings
2. Identify specific techniques used in forensic linguistics (corpus analysis, discourse analysis, forensic phonetics)
3. Critically evaluate the moral implications of language research and how linguistics can be used for the public good
Syllabus Information
The module will be delivered over 10 weeks focusing on the following topics:
* Introduction to Forensic Linguistics
* Social justice: language rights
* Discourse and power in the courtroom
* Pragmatics: determining authenticity
* Using linguistic corpora and determining authorship of a text
* Deepfakes and voice analysis
* Accentism
* Working with minority language speakers in legal and healthcare settings
* Language analysis for the determination of origin: the case of refugees
* Language analysis for the determination of origin: the case of refugees
This module will be delivered via:
1. One 1-hour lecture per week
2. Eight 1-hour seminars across the term
3. Two 1-hour practical sessions across the term
The module is primarily lecture-based, but additional time allotted for student-centred projects supported by seminar activities. Lectures are intended to introduce students to areas of forensic linguistics and showcase specific cases where linguistic knowledge is used in real-world scenarios. Seminar activities include hands-on exercises with data (such as courtroom transcripts, language corpora, and speech samples) as well as opportunities discussions, particularly around ethics. All learning materials are supplemented by readings and recommended online resources such as current news articles, discussions of technology, etc.
For accessibility, all materials will be provided online in a format that allows for visual/auditory adaptation to individual needs, and Listen Again will be enabled, so learning and teaching methods will be inclusive for all students.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Case study |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
Data Analysis |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
Essay |
|
50% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Laurel Lawyer, email: l.lawyer@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Laurel Lawyer, Dr Charles Redmon, Dr Kyle Jerro, Professor Enam Al-Wer, Dr Marisa Brook, Dr Natalia Rodriguez Vicente
l.lawyer@essex.ac.uk, Office: 4.340, Number: 2082
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dr Sam Christian D'Elia
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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