Forensic Linguistics: Advances in Forensic Stylistics

ISBN-13: 9780849309663 / Angielski / Twarda / 2002 / 360 str.

McMenamin R. McMenamin; Gerald R. McMenamin

Opis

Ted Kaczynski's manifesto.
The ransom note for Jon Benet Ramsey.
The anthrax letters threatening our government and media agencies.

With the aid of forensic linguistics, the words criminals leave behind in their unsigned letters can be as distinctive as a signature or voice. Although the linguistic study of language is well established, this important analytical tool is something new for many jurors, judges, attorneys, and other forensic specialists dealing with both criminal and civil cases. Forensic Linguistics: Advances in Forensic Stylistics provides an introduction to the field for those who need to understand what linguist-witnesses do, and aids those experts who need to talk about what they do in non-technical terms.

Stylistics is an identification method which seeks to match one piece of writing to another by analyzing such factors as spelling, text arrangement, abbreviations, word formation, characteristic words and phrases, and syntax. Forensic Linguistics: Advances in Forensic Stylistics documents current advances in this field, including quantitative methods of data analysis, a new way to provide scientific standardization, and new research directed at providing baseline data for determining the significance of style markers.

The book begins with concise coverage of linguistics and writing. It then focuses on the specifics of stylistics, including summaries of over 70 authorship cases. Finally, it presents chapters covering style and stylistics in Spanish, Gujarati, Korean, and Japanese. With a clear and comprehensive presentation, Forensic Linguistics: Advances in Forensic Stylistics helps readers understand recent advances in the theory and method of forensic stylistics for authorship identification.

Recenzje

"… It will undoubtedly be received as a standard text on the subject …"
-Roy Huber, author of Handwriting Analysis

Spis treści

LANGUAGE
Overview
Grammar
Language
References

LINGUISTICS
Linguistics
Applied Linguistics
References

LINGUISTIC VARIATION
Variation
Variation in Language
Variation as Ordered Heterogeneity
Group Vis-á-Vis Individual Variation
The Analysis of Variation
Language as a Discrete Combinatorial System
Another Discrete Combinatorical System: DNA
References

FORENSIC LINGUISTICS
Forensic Linguistics
Areas of Forensic Linguistics
Areas Directly Related to Forensic Linguistics
Areas Inaptly Related to Forensic Linguistics
References

STYLE
The Concept of Style
Style in Language
Evaluation Vis-á-Vis Description of Style
Group Vis-á-Vis Individual Styles
References

STYLISTICS
Style in Language
Linguistic Stylistics
Models of Analysis
Procedural Outline for Authorship Identification Studies
References

THE DESCRIPTION OF STYLE
The Qualitative Analysis of Style
An Example of Qualitative Analysis
References

THE MEASUREMENT OF STYLE
The Quantitative Analysis of Style
Statistical Tests for Significance of Variables
Measures of Authorship Discrimination
Corpus Development of American English
References

FORENSIC STYLISTICS
Forensic Applications of Linguistic Stylistics
Legal Definitions of Stylistics
Linguistic Stylistics as Evidence
Issues in Forensic Stylistic Analysis
The Linguist as Expert Witness
References

CASE STUDY: JON BENÉT RAMSEY
Introduction
Method
Findings: Qualitative
Findings: Quantitative
Discussion
Conclusion

STYLISTIC VARIATION IN AUTHORSHIP CASES
Cases in Forensic Linguistics
Adjudicated Cases
Examples of Unadjudicated Cases
Style Markers Found in 80 Authorship Cases
References

STYLE AND STYLISTICS OF SPANISH WRITING
Abstract (Spanish)
Spanish-Language Style and Stylistics
Style Markers: A Small Corpus of Mexican American Writing
Spanish-Language Cases: Linguistics and Stylistics
References

STYLISTIC FEATURES OF GUJARATI LETTER WRITING: A NOTE, P.J. Mistry
Abstract (Gujarati)
Introduction
Language
Writing System
Literacy
The Letters
Ten Characteristics Common to All Letters
Concluding Remarks
References

STYLE AND STYLISTICS OF KOREAN WRITING, Dongdoo Choi
Abstract (Korean)
Introduction
Method
Findings and Discussion
Word Spacing
Conclusions
References

STYLE AND STYLISTICS OF JAPANESE, Wakako Yasuda
Abstract (Japanese)
Introduction
The Japanese Writing System
Data Collection and Corpus Development
Analysis and Findings
Conclusion
References

APPENDICES
Possible Questions and Responses for Attorney's Direct Examination
Expert Testimony, Susan Morton

O autorze

Gerald R. McMenamin