Skip to main content
Home

Information for:

  • Alumni
  • Applicants
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • Job Vacancies
  • Covid-19
  • Cymraeg
My country:

Main Menu

    • Study Options
      • Study Home
      • Why Study at Bangor?
      • Undergraduate Study
      • Postgraduate Taught Study
      • Postgraduate Research
      • Part-time Courses
      • January Start Courses
      • Degree Apprenticeships
      • Study Abroad
      • Work Experience
    • Study Advice
      • Apply
      • Already Applied?
      • Fees and Finances
      • Scholarships and Bursaries
      • Get Ready for University
    • Explore Bangor
      • Virtual Open Days and Visits
      • Virtual Student Experience

    Find a Course

    Order a Prospectus

    • Student Life
      • Student Life Home
      • Bangor and the Area
      • Social Life and Entertainment
      • Accommodation
      • Clubs and Societies
      • Sport
      • Virtual Student Experience
    • Your Experience at Bangor
      • Student Support
      • Skills and Employability
      • Study or Work Abroad
      • Fees and Finances

    Welcome 2021

    Student Profiles

    Student Videos and Vlogs

    • Choose Bangor
      • International Home
      • Why Bangor?
      • Location
      • Student Support
      • Contact Us
    • Apply
      • Entry Requirements
      • Tuition Fees and Scholarships
      • How to Apply
      • Already Applied
      • Study Abroad
      • Exchanges

    January Intake Courses

    Country Specific Information

    Bangor University International College

    Covid-19 Information

    • Research
      • Research Home
      • About Our Research
      • Research in our Academic Schools
      • Research Institutes and Centres
      • Research Portal
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Energy
      • Research News
    • Postgraduate Study and Research Opportunities
      • Postgraduate Research Study
    • Events and Training Opportunities
      • Researcher Development
    • The University
      • About Us
      • Our Mission
      • Our Location
      • Academic Schools and Colleges
      • Services and Facilities
      • University Management and Governance
      • Vice Chancellor's Office
      • Working with Business
      • Working with the Community
      • Sustainability
      • Contact Us
    • Working for Us
      • Job Vacancies
    • University Management and Governance
      • Policies and Procedures
      • Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
    • University and the Community
      • Pontio
      • Sports Facilities
      • Conference Facilities
      • Places to Eat and Drink
      • Public Events
      • Widening Access
      • Services to Schools
    • Business Services
      • Business Services Home
    • Collaboration Hub
      • Collaboration Hub
      • Funding for Collaborative Research and Development (R&D) & Innovation
      • Business Facilities and Networks
      • Consultancy, Specialist Expertise and Knowledge
      • Commercialisation and Intellectual Property (IP)
      • Student Placements and Internships in Business & Enterprise
      • Training and Continuing Professional Development
      • Degree Apprenticeships
    • Conferencing and Business Dining
      • Conferencing Facilities
      • Business Dining
    • Contacts
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Get In Touch
    • News
      • Current News
      • Research News
      • Student News
    • Events
      • Events

    • Study Options
      • Study Home
      • Why Study at Bangor?
      • Undergraduate Study
      • Postgraduate Taught Study
      • Postgraduate Research
      • Part-time Courses
      • January Start Courses
      • Degree Apprenticeships
      • Study Abroad
      • Work Experience
    • Study Advice
      • Apply
      • Already Applied?
      • Fees and Finances
      • Scholarships and Bursaries
      • Get Ready for University
    • Explore Bangor
      • Virtual Open Days and Visits
      • Virtual Student Experience

    Find a Course

    Order a Prospectus

    Covid-19 information

    • Student Life
      • Student Life Home
      • Bangor and the Area
      • Social Life and Entertainment
      • Accommodation
      • Clubs and Societies
      • Sport
      • Virtual Student Experience
    • Your Experience at Bangor
      • Student Support
      • Skills and Employability
      • Study or Work Abroad
      • Fees and Finances

    Welcome 2021

    Student Profiles

    Student Videos and Vlogs

    • Choose Bangor
      • International Home
      • Why Bangor?
      • Location
      • Student Support
      • Contact Us
    • Apply
      • Entry Requirements
      • Tuition Fees and Scholarships
      • How to Apply
      • Already Applied
      • Study Abroad
      • Exchanges

    January Intake Courses

    Country Specific Information

    Bangor University International College

    Covid-19 Information

    • Research
      • Research Home
      • About Our Research
      • Research in our Academic Schools
      • Research Institutes and Centres
      • Research Portal
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Energy
      • Research News
    • Postgraduate Study and Research Opportunities
      • Postgraduate Research Study
    • Events and Training Opportunities
      • Researcher Development
    • The University
      • About Us
      • Our Mission
      • Our Location
      • Academic Schools and Colleges
      • Services and Facilities
      • University Management and Governance
      • Vice Chancellor’s Office
      • Working with Business
      • Working with the Community
      • Sustainability
      • Contact Us
    • Working for Us
      • Job Vacancies
    • University Management and Governance
      • Policies and Procedures
      • Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
    • University and the Community
      • Pontio
      • Sports Facilities
      • Conference Facilities
      • Places to Eat and Drink
      • Public Events
      • Widening Access
      • Services to Schools
    • Business Services
      • Business Services Home
    • Collaboration Hub
      • Collaboration Hub
      • Funding for Collaborative Research and Development (R&D) & Innovation
      • Business Facilities and Networks
      • Consultancy, Specialist Expertise and Knowledge
      • Commercialisation and Intellectual Property (IP)
      • Student Placements and Internships in Business & Enterprise
      • Training and Continuing Professional Development
      • Degree Apprenticeships
    • Conferencing and Business Dining
      • Conferencing Facilities
      • Business Dining
    • Contacts
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Get In Touch
    • News
      • Current News
      • Research News
      • Student News
    • Events
      • Events

Information for:

  • Alumni
  • Applicants
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • Job Vacancies
  • Covid-19
My country:

Search

Close

Breadcrumb

Share this page:
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Cymraeg

Share this page:
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Module QXL-3026:
Forensic Linguistics in Court

Module Facts

Run by School of Languages, Literatures, Linguistics and Media

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Dr John Olsson

Overall aims and purpose

This module focuses on established principles and theories of Linguistics as they apply to discourse which occurs in the court room, the use of forensic linguistics as an expertise, and the analysis of the different types of language which take place in the court room. The aim is to make law and criminology students aware of what is happening at the linguistic level.

Course content

The language of examination and cross-examination; the language of judge-lawyer communications; the language of judicial summaries; the language of voir dire; the language of expert witnesses; the language of opening and closing speeches to the jury.

Assessment Criteria

threshold

Displays ability to understand, within the context of having a specialised knowledge, the basics of discourse and pragmatics, and a critical awareness of the different types of courtroom communication. Ability to research and apply research knowledge to the task showing a developed understanding of the techniques used in courtroom discourse and an ability to understand and evaluate to a critical level the scholarship in the field.

excellent

Needs to display a thorough mastery of the specialised field of linguistic questions in relation to courtroom discourse and pragmatics to a level of having a systematic and structured knowledge of techniques, methodology and ways of appraising courtroom discourse techniques. Must be able to critically evaluate contributions of courtroom participants, research inventively and originally into these questions and be able to apply research knowledge critically to the task. An ability to critically evaluate advanced scholarship in the field, in addition to showing a comprehensive conceptual understanding.

good

In addition to the above, needs to display an accomplished understanding of linguistic structures and their place within a system of communication with a critical awareness of current research trends in communication science generally and courtroom communication in particular. Ability to think critically about courtroom interaction and critically apply research knowledge to the task as well as being able to show comprehensive conceptual understanding of the scholarship in the field in addition to being able to evaluate it critically. https://apps.bangor.ac.uk/pip_module/assessment_criteria/SXL-4026/#assessment-criteria-2

Learning outcomes

  1. Develop a sophisticated level of understanding and critically analyse key concepts in court room language as used by the different parties and interest groups in achieving their communicative goals, e.g prosecutor cross-examination v defence cross-examination, etc.

  2. Show a critical understanding of courtroom narrative.

  3. Gain an in-depth knowledge of how lawyers are able to exploit language for particular communicative effects.

  4. Critically analyse and evaluate the role of linguistic analysis in understanding court room procedures.

  5. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of how juries receive and understand communications from the different participants, viz, lawyers, witnesses, judges.

  6. Critically analyse and evaluate how lay people react to language in the courtroom.

  7. Develop a sophisticated understanding of the principles of discourse and pragmatics with examples from courtroom interaction.

  8. Gain a systematic knowledge of language in courtroom procedures.

  9. Develop a structured, critical understanding of language and power in the courtroom.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
Written assignment 100.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Private study 178
Seminar

Seminars – one two-hour seminar weekly over 11 weeks

22

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Resources

Resource implications for students

Coulthard, M. and A. Johnson. 2007. Introduction to Forensic Linguistics: Language in Evidence. London: Routledge. Grant, T. 2013. TXT 4N6: Method, Consistency, and Distinctiveness In the Analysis of SMS Text Messages, 21 J. L. & Policy, Pp. 467-494. Olsson, J. 2004. Forensic Linguistics: An introduction to language, crime and the law. London: Continuum.

Courses including this module

Optional in courses:

  • Q100: BA Linguistics year 3 (BA/LING)
  • Q104: BA Linguistics (with International Experience)) year 4 (BA/LINGIE)
  • Q101: MArts Linguistics year 3 (MARTS/LING)

Home

About Us

Academic Schools and Colleges

  • School of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
    • Home
    • About the School
      • Our Location
      • Bangor & the Area
      • Community Engagement
      • Studying in Welsh
    • Our Staff
    • Undergraduate Study
      • Order a prospectus
      • University Open Days
      • Why Bangor?
      • Get ready for University
      • Accommodation
      • Scholarships & Bursaries
      • Fees & Finances
      • Applying to Bangor
      • Careers & Employability
      • Student Life
      • Studying at Bangor
      • Student Support
      • UCAS Visit Days
      • Year Abroad Options
        • Contacts and Blogs
        • Your Options
        • Before you leave
        • Living Abroad
          • Living in France / Belgium / Switzerland / Martinique
          • Living in Germany / Austria
          • Living in Italy
          • Living in Spain and Latin America
        • Studying Abroad
        • Supporting You
        • Employability and the Year Abroad
        • Year Abroad Forms
      • Language Links
    • Postgraduate Study
      • Overview
      • Why study with us?
      • Order a prospectus
      • Fees & Finances
      • Scholarships & Funding
      • Entry requirements
      • Applying to Bangor
      • Accommodation
      • Student Support
      • Student Life
      • Studying at Bangor
    • Order a Prospectus
    • Creative Bangor
    • Languages for All
    • English Language Centre for Overseas Students (ELCOS)
      • About ELCOS
      • 中文
      • اللغة العربية
      • Courses
        • Pathways
        • Pre-sessional courses
        • Language Improvement Courses
        • Summer courses
        • How to apply
      • How to apply
      • Useful Information
      • Modules for overseas students studying at Bangor
      • News
      • Events
      • Staff
      • Contact us
    • Research
      • Languages Research
        • Staff Research Specialisms
        • Research Forum
        • Centre for Galician Studies in Wales
          • Research
          • Staff
          • Galicia 21 Journal
        • European Travellers to Wales
      • Literatures Research
        • Conferences
      • Linguistics Research
      • Research Seminars
      • Research Ethics
    • Videos
    • Events & Conferences
    • News
    • Contact Us
Home

Follow Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn

Bangor University

Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG, UK

+44 (0)1248 351151

marketing@bangor.ac.uk

Visit Us

Maps & Directions

Policy

  • Legal Compliance
  • Modern Slavery Act 2015 Statement
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy and Cookies
Map

Bangor University is a Registered Charity: No. 1141565

© 2020 Bangor University