LING 20700 - Introduction To Forensic Linguistics

This course is a general introduction to the field of forensic linguistics. Forensic linguistics involves the application of scientific knowledge to language in the context of criminal and civil law. This context-based learning course will provide students with the history of forensic linguistics and the opportunity to develop and apply fundamental linguistic skills to forensic linguistic analysis of written materials. Materials to be analyzed will include law enforcement documents (murder evidence, cybercrimes, suicide notes, etc.), valid and false confessions, and authorship investigations to demonstrate the use of forensic linguistics in criminal and civil court proceedings, investigations, and intelligence.

Cr. 3.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Gain an understanding of basic linguistic concepts and key terms and how they are applied to the field of forensic linguistics.
2. Develop a working knowledge of the aspects of dialectology, language differences, and the social factors which affect the range of variation in its many forms (including age, sex/gender, and geographical location) and how they work within the field of forensic linguistics.
3. Identify specific linguistic properties in written data.
4. Engage in coherent and reasonable arguments in support of discovered evidence.
5. Cultivate an awareness of the importance and power of linguistic understanding in a legal context.