How to use corpus linguistics in forensic linguistics

Abstract

In fact, there are certain areas such as authorship, where corpus linguistics is seen as the way forward for identification and elimination of candidate authors. This chapter explores the issues around the use of corpus linguistics in forensic linguistic analysis, including both its potential advantages and also some of the methodological challenges associated with its use. Within the field of forensic linguistics, the idea of using corpora to analyze legal casework involving texts is a relatively new and cutting-edge concept. The Bentley case is a powerful illustration of one of the ways in which forensic linguistics and corpus linguistics can come together to produce compelling evidence. Corpus linguistics represents a particularly tricky area to explain to a group of lay jurors since it involves an explanation not only of the results but also of the methodology. A number of researchers are attempting to construct specialist corpora of this type, including those consisting of text messages, suicide notes and courtroom interaction.