Methodoligies and methods in forensic linguistics

Abstract

Forensic linguistics applies linguistic theories and methodologies
to legal and criminal investigations, offering critical insights into
language use in the context of law. This article focuses on the theoretical
foundations of forensic linguistics, examining key methodologies such as
qualitative and quantitative approaches, corpus linguistics and the
application of linguistic theory to legal cases. The discussion also covers
various methods used in forensic linguistics, including authorship
attribution, forensic phonetics, pragmatic analysis and sociolinguistic
profiling. By exploring case studies like the Unabomber case, J.K. Rowling’s
authorship and the Derek Bentley case, the article illustrates how these
theoretical frameworks are applied to real-world issues. Through this
exploration, the paper highlights the importance of forensic linguistics in
bridging the gap between language and law, emphasizing its theoretical
foundations and methodological approaches.