Forensic linguistics : an introduction to language in the justice system / John Gibbons.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gibbons, John, 1946-

Series:

Language in society (Oxford, England) ; 32.

Language in society ; 32

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Law--Language.

Law.

Law--Terminology.

Forensic linguistics.

English language--Semantics.

English language.

Genre:

Dictionaries.

Physical Description:

viii, 337 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Malden, MA : Blackwell Pub., 2003.

Summary:

Forensic Linguistics is an introduction to the fascinating interface between language and the law. Examining the nature of legal language, the first half of the book demonstrates that the law is an overwhelmingly linguistic institution, since laws are coded in language and the concepts that are used to construct the law are accessible only through language. The book also explores the language of contracts and the language of legal processes, such as court cases, police investigations and the management of prisoners. The second half of Forensic Linguistics is more socially applied. It discusses the difficulty of understanding legal language, and linguistic sources of disadvantage before the law, particularly for ethnic minorities, children and abused women. The volume then considers legislation on language, including language crimes, as well as linguistic evidence.

Contents:

Introduction: The Law and Language 1

1 Literacy and the Law 15

2 The Pursuit of Precision 36

3 Interaction and Power 74

4 Telling the story 129

5 Communication Issues in the Legal System 162

6 Language and Disadvantage before the Law 200

7 Bridging the Gap 228

8 Law on Language 256

9 Linguistic Evidence 281.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [310]-326) and indexes.

ISBN:

0631212469

0631212477

OCLC:

50591070