The Centre for Language and Communication Services offers Forensic linguistics or Forensic stylistics services, our experts focuses on taking the analytical techniques of that field and applying them to legal and criminal issues as far-ranging as trial, investigation, rehabilitation and punishment. The forensic linguistics team reviews spoken and written materials and, using the scientific techniques of linguistics, analyzes them, determining who authored a written document and identifying speakers of oral material, such as taped conversations. Forensic linguistics teams at CLCS also measures as well as determines both the content and meaning of both spoken and written material.
In deciding authorship, the technique used in the field of forensic linguistics is to study a written communication and compare its spelling, grammar, vocabulary, tone and sentence structure to known writings from the suspect to determine whether he or she wrote it. An example might be a suicide note whose legitimacy is in question. This type of analysis is particularly useful in threat assessment, where a ransom note or a menacing email, letter or text message has been received. For example, in the case of threatened workplace or school violence, specific word usage can give law enforcement officials insight into how likely it is that action will follow.
These same forensic linguistic tools are useful in the investigation of false allegations as well as in analysis of statements and confessions. In those instances, our forensic linguistic analysts establish the truthfulness of the writer's or speaker’s words, the information that is conveyed by choice of words and the mention of any little-known information. By studying these things, CLCS forensic linguistics teams can suggest the most effective approach to take with an individual suspect, witness or victim.
CLCS teams conducts analyses of oral communications through the use of forensic linguistics forensic phonetics. The Forensic phonetics deals with voice or speaker identification analysis. The tools that our teams applies in this type of forensic linguistic analysis are not only the acoustical sounds of the voice but also special language-use patterns such as vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar, which can reveal a speaker’s national, regional and social background. In short, whether in written or oral communications, forensic linguistics specialists develops a collection of markers that brands a specific speaker or writer as unique and, ultimately, establishes a kind of linguistic "fingerprint" that can be used to determine guilt or innocence.